Electromagnetic Magnus effect

The scattering pattern of a plane wave incident on a rotating cylinder is d istorted by rotation, generating a force perpendicular to the axis of the c ylinder and to the propagation of direction as the Magnus force in hydrodyn amics. Using a relativistic description of rotations, we investigate the el ectromagnetic Magnus effect for a plane wave of the E-type and for a good c onducting circular cylinder rotating with a small angular velocity. We prov e that the Magnus force is zero for a rotating perfectly conducting cylinde r. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.