A Study on the Inconsistency of Maxwell's Electromagnetic Theory

For a long time, Maxwell's electromagnetic theory has been regarded as the cornerstone of electromagnetic phenomena, but its logical self-consistency regarding energy conservation remains controversial. The author's preliminary research indicates that because this theory allows both self-energy flow and mutual-energy flow to transfer energy simultaneously, it harbors a suspicion of violating energy conservation at a deep logical level. Through in-depth derivation, this paper finds that within the framework of Maxwell's radiation theory, in reality, only self-energy flow transfers energy, while mutual-energy flow manifests as reactive power. This means Maxwell's theory is essentially a "self-energy flow theory." However, this conclusion leads to a serious conflict in physical logic. Under quasi-static conditions, such as energy exchange between the primary and secondary coils of a transformer, energy is transferred by mutual-energy flow (coupled fields). If we adhere to Maxwell's radiation theory, the energy transfer mechanism would undergo a drastic shift from "mutual-energy flow dominated" to "self-energy flow dominated" when transitioning from quasi-static fields to radiation fields. Considering that the operating principles of transmitting and receiving antennas are highly similar in physical essence to transformers, such a discontinuity in the energy transfer mechanism clearly does not conform to the continuity of physical laws. This paper points out that radiation field theory should not produce such a qualitative change; this contradiction suggests a fundamental flaw in Maxwell's electromagnetic theory when dealing with energy coupling mechanisms. Based on this, this paper argues for the necessity of revising Maxwell's theory and expounds on the core role of mutual-energy flow in radiation field energy transfer. This research provides a new theoretical perspective for re-examining the nature of electromagnetic radiation, helping readers to more clearly identify the limitations of traditional theory.