Geometrization of Maxwell's Equations in the Construction of Optical Devices

The development of physics in the XX-th century was closely linked to the development of the mathematical apparatus. The General Relativity demonstrated the power of the geometric approach. Unfortunately, the infiltration of this apparatus in other domains of physics is rather slow. For example, there were some attempts of integration of the geometric methods in electrodynamics, but until recently they remained only as a theoretical exercise. Interest to the geometric methods in electrodynamics is summoned by practical necessity. The following algorithm of designing of the electromagnetic device is possible. We construct the estimated trajectories of propagation of electromagnetic waves. Then we calculate the parameters of the medium along these trajectories. The inverse problem is also interesting. The paper considers the techniques of construction of optical devices based on the method of geometrization of Maxwell’s equations. The method is based on representation of material equations in the form of an effective space-time geometry. Thus we get a problem similar to that of some bimetric theory of gravity. That allows to use a well-developed apparatus of differential geometry. On this basis, we can examine the propagation of the electromagnetic field on the given parameters of the medium. It is also possible to find the parameters of the medium by a given law of propagation of electromagnetic fields.

Maxwell’s equations, constitutive equations, Maxwell’s equations geometrization, Riemann geometry, curvilinear coordinates