Aspects of Weber Electrodynamics

Baumgaertel, Christof (2022) Aspects of Weber Electrodynamics. PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

This study investigates certain aspects of the direct-action electrodynamic theory of Wilhelm Eduard Weber with a special focus on selected experimental topics. Weber electrodynamics is an alternative to electromagnetic field theory and Maxwell’s equations that can describe a wide range of electric and magnetic phenomena and in addition provides a basis for other branches of physics by explaining phenomena beyond the scope of electromagnetism. It is of interest to investigate the validity of the theory and if it can be a viable alternative to existing approaches, exploring its modelling capabilities and determining boundaries of its applicability. Further, it is sought what experimental evidence can be obtained in support of either theory and if there are associated benefits and drawbacks to the respective theories.\\ The literature analysis gives a brief introduction to both the standard theory of fields and that of Weber. It then continues to review the capabilities of Weber’s electrodynamics and shows how it has been used in the literature as an explanation for several phenomena, including, but not limited to, electricity and magnetism. In addition, limitations that exist in Weber’s electrodynamics are also addressed and criticism the theory has faced historically re-explored.\\ Experiments have been performed encompassing electron beam deflection and unipolar induction, which also investigates the movement of a rotating magnetic field. The experimental results are used to juxtapose predicted results from Weber as well as a standard field model to measured data, enabling the validity of the theories to be assessed within the constraints of the experiments.\\ The results of this work show that, in the low velocity limit, Weber's theory and Maxwell's are similar, if not the same. For the experiments performed with electron beam deflection and unipolar induction, both theories are found to arrive at the same results, qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Further to good agreement between experimentally observed quantities and predictions from the theoretical models, open questions about unipolar induction could be answered and new insight was gained regarding the working mechanism of the unipolar induction phenomenon.\\ Although agreement is found between Weber’s theory and these specific experiments, the theory is not without limitations and still needs further development. The similarity between Weber’s and Maxwell’s theories are discussed and extended to fundamental concepts such as the ether, particles and fields; Weber’s theory as a particle-based theory is considered as a promising approach to gain new insight into some of the fundamental concepts of physics.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	10 Nov 2022 14:42
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 20:41
DOI:	10.17638/03165052
Supervisors:	Maher, Simon
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3165052