On the existence and uniqueness of solutions to Maxwell's equations in bounded domains with application to magnetotellurics

Abstract

We analyze the solution of the time-harmonic Maxwell equations with vanishing electric permittivity in bounded domains and subject to absorbing boundary conditions. The problem arises naturally in magnetotellurics when considering the propagation of electromagnetic waves within the earth's interior. Existence and uniqueness are shown under the assumption that the source functions are square integrable. In this case, the electric and magnetic fields belong to H(curl; Ω). If, in addition, the divergences of the source functions are square integrable and the coefficients are Lipschitz-continuous, a stronger regularity result is obtained. A decomposition of the space of square integrable vector functions and a new compact imbedding result are exploited.