Title: The energy-momentum tensor of electromagnetic fields in matter,
Abstract: We present a complete resolution of the Abraham-Minkowski controversy . This
is done by considering several new aspects which invalidate previous
discussions. We show that: 1)For polarized matter the center of mass theorem is
no longer valid in its usual form. A contribution related to microscopic spin
should be considered. 2)The electromagnetic dipolar energy density contributes
to the inertia of matter and should be incorporated covariantly to the the
energy-momentum tensor of matter. Then there is an electromagnetic component in
matter's momentum density whose variation explains the results of the only
experiment which supports Abraham's force. 3)Averaging the microscopic
Lorentz's force results in the unambiguos expression for the force density
exerted by the field. This force density is consistent with all the
experimental evidence. 4)Momentum conservation determines the electromagnetic
energy-momentum tensor. This tensor is different from Abraham's and Minkowski's
tensors, but one recovers Minkowski's expression for the momentum density. The
energy density is different from Poynting's expression but Poynting's vector
remains the same. Our tensor is non-symmetric which allows the field to exert a
distributed torque on matter. We use our results to discuss momentum and
angular momentum exchange in various situations of physical interest. We find
complete consistency of our equations in the description of the systems
considered. We also show that several alternative expressions of the field
energy-momentum tensor and force-density cannot be successfully used in all our
examples. In particular we verify in two of these examples that the center of
mass and spin introduced by us moves with constant velocity, but that the
standard center of mass does not.