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2024-12-25 10:52:27 UTC
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Wolf480pl on Nostr: hmm looks like in a dielectric, EM waves only interact with the electron shells of ...

hmm looks like in a dielectric, EM waves only interact with the electron shells of atoms, and the restoring force for those comes from whatever quantum effect binds them to the nuclei[1].

Meanwhile in case of Alfven waves, according to the wikipedia page you linked, it's the magnetic field line tension that provides the restoring force...

Intuitively it feels right that such a force would exist, but I'm curious why.

[1]: https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/I_31.html