HYDRODYNAMICS OF POLARIZABLE LIQUIDS

The complete hydrodynamic theory of polarizable and magnetizable isotropic liquids is presented. This is a century-old problem that we claim to have solved. Starting from an extensive discussion of the results and controversies of the past 90 years, and of the present literature, the obvious difficulties are first presented and then cleansed of their notational content. Using only input of universal acceptance, the Lorentz transformation, the macroscopic Maxwell equations, and the thermodynamics, a set of hydrodynamic equations of motion is derived rigorously, without any ad-hoc assumptions or residual ambiguities. Definite expressions are especially provided for the total momentum density, its stress tensor, and the acceleration of a polarized body. Other controversial concepts, such as the field momentum density, the pressure, and the force density in the polarized body, are shown to be arbitrary, the extent of which, however, is clarified. © 1993 Academic Press, Inc.