Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / ia / Paper 3 / 11C / Solution

For a Cartesian change of basis represented by an orthogonal matrix $Q$, vectors transform as $E_i^{\prime }=Q_{ia}{E}_a$ and $B_i^{\prime }=Q_{ia}{B}_a$. Their squared norms are invariant and $Q_{ia}{Q}_{jb}{\delta }_{ab}={\delta }_{ij}$. Substitution into the given expression therefore givesthe transformation law of a Cartesian second-rank tensor. The magnetic field's extra axial sign under an improper physical reflection, if included, appears twice and cancels in its quadratic contribution.

Write the Maxwell stress tensor as $T=\mathbf{EE}+\mathbf{BB}-\frac{1}{2}(E^2+B^2)I$. Its divergence isThe identity $(\mathbf{A}\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{A}-\frac{1}{2}\nabla A^2=-\mathbf{A}\times (\nabla \times \mathbf{A})$ follows by contracting two Levi-Civita symbols, or directly by differentiating components. Using Maxwell's equations consequently yieldsHence the local conservation of electromagnetic momentum isThe two subtracted terms are the Lorentz force density, while $\mathbf{E}\times \mathbf{B}$ is the electromagnetic momentum density in the units used here.