Line geometry and electromagnetism II: wave motion

Abstract

The fundamental role of line geometry in the study of wave motion is first introduced in the general context by way of the tangent planes to the instantaneous wave surfaces, in which it is first observed that the possible frequency-wave number 1-forms are typically constrained by a dispersion law that is derived from a constitutive law by way of the field equations. After a general review of the basic concepts that relate to quadratic line complexes, these geometric notions are applied to the study of electromagnetic waves, in particular.