Abstract
MAXWELL'S equations are well established for phenomena on laboratory and terrestrial scales, but there are other electrodynamic theories, as yet indistinguishable on such scales from Maxwell's theory, that have significantly different consequences for phenomena on an astronomical scale. For example, extensive magnetic fields are possible in the Universe1 because of the general absence of magnetic monopoles. Parker1 considered the abundance of magnetic monopoles that would neutralise or dissipate the magnetic fields of the Earth, Sun and the Galaxy, and deduced for the number density of free magnetic monopoles upper limits that are more stringent than those deduced from laboratory and terrestrial data.
References
Parker, E. N., Astrophys., J., 160, 383–404 (1970).
Yourgrau, W., and Woodward, J. F., Acta phys. hung., 30, 323–329 (1971).
Weinstein, D. H., and Keeney, J., Nature, 247, 140 (1974).
Goldhaber, A. S., and Nieto, M. M., Rev. mod. Phys., 43, 277–296 (1971).
Byrne, J. C., and Burman, R. R., J. Phys., A, 6, L12–L14 (1973).
Manchester, R. N., Astrophys., J., 188, 637–644 (1974).
Einasto, J., Kaasik, A., and Saar, E., Nature, 250, 309–310 (1974).
Allen, C. W., Astrophysical Quantities, 3rd ed. (Athlone Press, London, 1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BYRNE, J., BURMAN, R. Of fundamental electrodynamics and astrophysics. Nature 253, 27 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253027a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/253027a0
This article is cited by
-
Electrodynamic and gravitational effects of proca stresses in astrophysics
Astrophysics and Space Science (1978)
-
Cosmic tests of Maxwell's equations
Astrophysics and Space Science (1977)
-
Longitudinal photons in the fireball
Nature (1975)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.