Motion in classical field theories and the foundations of the self-force problem

DOI10.1007/978-3-319-18335-0_12zbMATH Open1338.83005arXiv1405.5077OpenAlexW1695665491WikidataQ59327969 ScholiaQ59327969MaRDI QIDQ2804114FDOQ2804114

Authors: Abraham I. Harte 

Publication date: 27 April 2016

Published in: Fundamental Theories of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: This article serves as a pedagogical introduction to the problem of motion in classical field theories. The primary focus is on self-interaction: How does an object's own field affect its motion? General laws governing the self-force and self-torque are derived using simple, non-perturbative arguments. The relevant concepts are developed gradually by considering motion in a series of increasingly complicated theories. Newtonian gravity is discussed first, then Klein-Gordon theory, electromagnetism, and finally general relativity. Linear and angular momenta as well as centers of mass are defined in each of these cases. Multipole expansions for the force and torque are then derived to all orders for arbitrarily self-interacting extended objects. These expansions are found to be structurally identical to the laws of motion satisfied by extended test bodies, except that all relevant fields are replaced by effective versions which exclude the self-fields in a particular sense. Regularization methods traditionally associated with self-interacting point particles arise as straightforward perturbative limits of these (more fundamental) results. Additionally, generic mechanisms are discussed which dynamically shift --- i.e., renormalize --- the apparent multipole moments associated with self-interacting extended bodies. Although this is primarily a synthesis of earlier work, several new results and interpretations are included as well.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1405.5077

Recommendations

• Self-forces from generalized Killing fields
• Electromagnetic self-forces and generalized Killing fields
• On the Self-force in Electrodynamics and Implications for Gravity
• The motion of point particles in curved spacetime
• Mechanics of extended masses in general relativity

zbMATH Keywords

classical field theoriesproblem of motion

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Equations of motion in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C10) Approximation procedures, weak fields in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C25) Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to relativity and gravitational theory (83-02)

Cited In (12)

• Mechanics of extended masses in general relativity
• Energy in Newtonian gravity
• Scattering of two spinning black holes in post-Minkowskian gravity, to all orders in spin, and effective-one-body mappings
• Persistent gravitational wave observables: nonlinearities in (non-)geodesic deviation
• Weak second Bianchi identity for static, spherically symmetric spacetimes with timelike singularities
• Generalized Carter constant for quadrupolar test bodies in Kerr spacetime
• Spin and quadrupole couplings for high spin equatorial intermediate mass-ratio coalescences
• Effective stress-energy tensors, self-force and broken symmetry
• Electromagnetic self-forces and generalized Killing fields
• Hamiltonian formulation of the conservative self-force dynamics in the Kerr geometry
• Multipolar particles in helically symmetric spacetimes
• Gravitational lensing beyond geometric optics. I: Formalism and observables

This page was built for publication: Motion in classical field theories and the foundations of the self-force problem

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2804114)