Linear coupling of electromagnetic waves in weakly inhomogeneous non-one-dimensional media is considered as a manifestation of the polarization degeneracy of the Maxwell equations. It is shown that the presence of two polarization-degenerate normal waves imposes strong constraints on the dielectric tensor components near the interaction region. As a result, the possible types of linear wave coupling and the corresponding wave equations admit a universal classification, which is independent of the way in which the linear medium is modeled.

PACS: 41.20.Jb, 42.25.Bs, 52.35.Hr (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.0182.201202d.0157 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2012/2/c/ 000304186400003 2-s2.0-84862079305 2012PhyU...55..147S Citation: Shalashov A G, Gospodchikov E D "Structure of the Maxwell equations in the region of linear coupling of electromagnetic waves in weakly inhomogeneous anisotropic and gyrotropic media" Phys. Usp. 55 147–160 (2012) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 28th, December 2010, revised: 4th, July 2011, accepted: 15th, July 2011 Оригинал: Шалашов А Г, Господчиков Е Д «О структуре уравнений Максвелла в области линейного взаимодействия электромагнитных волн в плавнонеоднородных анизотропных и гиротропных средах» УФН 182 157–171 (2012); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0182.201202d.0157