Flood, Stephen and Burton, David (2015) Exploring the edge of electromagnetism using extreme fields. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.
thesis_Flood.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
Download (2MB)
Abstract
This thesis considers aspects of nonlinear electromagnetism and the eects of spin under the in uence of extreme elds. Born-Infeld-like theories are studied in the context of possible slow light experiments. Maximum amplitude plasma waves are considered as a possible testing ground for nonlinear electrodynamics with regards to electron energy gain. Finally the eects of the coupling between the electromagnetic eld and the spin of a relativistic classical particle are considered via a new derivation of the relativistic Stern-Gerlach and Thomas- Bargmann-Michel-Telegdi equations. These equations are then paired with the Nakano-Tulczyjew condition and, as the Stern-Gerlach-type terms in the equations of motion are most prominent in a eld with a high eld gradient, the impact of spin is investigated in the context of a maximum amplitude plasma wave.