On the completeness of classical electromagnetism

Abstract

The possibility of an incompletness of the equations of electromagnetism is analyzed using a thought experiment that shows a non-physical behavior according to classical electromagnetism. Basically, from Maxwell equations it is shown that a particular passive, isolated circuit could present a transient growth of its currents. Resolution of this problem is sought within the context of the usual electromagnetism and also using the possibly simplest generalization of Maxwell equations, a reduced version of Ohmura equations.