The connection between electromagnetic stress tensors and the dielectric constant in a medium
Abstract
We perform explicit calculations for microscopic models to confirm that a single, unique electromagnetic stress tensor exists in a dielectric medium: the microscopic tensor $σ^{#}$. We demonstrate that the conventional macroscopic stress tensor of continuum electrodynamics, which contains the derivative of the dielectric coefficient, is merely a representation of $σ^{#}$'s spatial average. This result establishes that, contrary to claims in the literature, both this averaged electromagnetic stress and the hydrodynamic pressure always possess a unique physical meaning.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics
Electrical and Electromagnetic Research
Electromagnetic Simulation and Numerical Methods
Publication details
- Journal / source
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Publication date
- 13 January 2026
- Document type
- Preprint