Skewon no-go theorem

Abstract: Axion modification of the electrodynamics can be considered as produced by an irreducible part of the constitutive pseudotensor. In this paper, we study the modification of wave propagation produced by the second irreducible part called skewon. We introduce the notions of skewon optic tensor and skewon optic covector. With these devices we prove that in a pseudo-Riemannian manifold endowed with an arbitrary skewon at least one solution of the dispersion relation is spacelike. This means that the skewon generates superluminal wave motion and is thus ruled out on the basis of SR principles.