On the solutions of the Lorentz-Dirac equation (Q1420844)

The authors consider the problems of causality and runaway solutions of the Lorentz-Dirac (LD) equation for the motion of a charged particle including its radiation back reaction. By considering the exact soluble example of a non-relativistic radiating harmonic oscillator, numerical solutions of the LD equation are compared with a recently proposed series of successive approximations \textit{J. M. Aguirregabiria} [J. Phys. A, Math. Gen. 30, No. 7, 2391--2402 (1997; Zbl 0934.34002)]. Despite the problem of slow convergence, the successive approximations method proved to be more appropriate since it is not plagued with the instabilities caused by the spurious runaway solutions.