Minkowski momentum of an MHD wave

Abstract

The momentum of an MHD wave has been examined from the view point of the electromagnetic momentum expression derived by Minkowski. Basic calculations show that the Minkowski momentum is the sum of electromagnetic momentum and the momentum of the medium, as proposed in some of the past literature. The result has been explicitly confirmed by an example of an MHD wave, whose dynamics can be easily and precisely calculated from basic equations. The example of MHD wave also demonstrates the possiblility to construct a symmetric energy-momentum tensor based on the Minkowski momentum.