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Of fundamental electrodynamics and astrophysics
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  • Letter
  • Published: 03 January 1975

Of fundamental electrodynamics and astrophysics

  • J. C. BYRNE1 nAff2 &
  • R. R. BURMAN1 

Nature volume 253, page 27 (1975)Cite this article

  • 590 Accesses

  • 7 Citations

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Abstract

MAXWELL'S equations are well established for phenomena on laboratory and terrestrial scales, but there are other electrodynamic theories, as yet indistinguishable on such scales from Maxwell's theory, that have significantly different consequences for phenomena on an astronomical scale. For example, extensive magnetic fields are possible in the Universe1 because of the general absence of magnetic monopoles. Parker1 considered the abundance of magnetic monopoles that would neutralise or dissipate the magnetic fields of the Earth, Sun and the Galaxy, and deduced for the number density of free magnetic monopoles upper limits that are more stringent than those deduced from laboratory and terrestrial data.

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References

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Author information

Author notes
  1. J. C. BYRNE

    Present address: Departmentof Physics, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009

    J. C. BYRNE & R. R. BURMAN

Authors
  1. J. C. BYRNE
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  2. R. R. BURMAN
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Cite this article

BYRNE, J., BURMAN, R. Of fundamental electrodynamics and astrophysics. Nature 253, 27 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253027a0

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  • Received: 20 September 1974

  • Issue date: 03 January 1975

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/253027a0

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This article is cited by

  • Electrodynamic and gravitational effects of proca stresses in astrophysics

    • George L. Murphy
    • Ronald R. Burman

    Astrophysics and Space Science (1978)

  • Cosmic tests of Maxwell's equations

    • J. C. Byrne

    Astrophysics and Space Science (1977)

  • Longitudinal photons in the fireball

    • GEORGE L. MURPHY

    Nature (1975)

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