Calculation of the self force using the extended-object approach

DOI10.1063/1.1737052zbMATH Open1071.78011arXivgr-qc/0309102OpenAlexW3105975722MaRDI QIDQ4833430FDOQ4833430

Authors: Amos Ori, Eran Rosenthal 

Publication date: 15 December 2004

Published in: Journal of Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We present here the extended-object approach for the explanation and calculation of the self-force phenomenon. In this approach, one considers a charged extended object of a finite size $epsilon$ that accelerates in a nontrivial manner, and calculates the total force exerted on it by the electromagnetic field (whose source is the charged object itself). We show that at the limit $epsilono0$ this overall electromagnetic field yields a universal result, independent on the object's shape, which agrees with the standard expression for the self force acting on a point-like charge. This approach has already been considered by many authors, but previous analyses ended up with expressions for the total electromagnetic force that include $O(1/epsilon)$ terms which do not have the form required by mass-renormalization. (In the special case of a spherical charge distribution, this $propto1/epsilon$ term was found to be 4/3 times larger than the desired quantity.) We show here that this problem was originated from a too naive definition of the notion of total electromagnetic force used in previous analyses. Based on energy-momentum conservation combined with proper relativistic kinematics, we derive here the correct notion of total electromagnetic force. This completely cures the problematic $O(1/epsilon)$ term, for any object's shape, and yields the correct self force at the limit $epsilono0$. In particular, for a spherical charge distribution, the above 4/3 problem is resolved.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0309102

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Motion of charged particles (78A35)

Cites Work

• Classical theory of radiating electrons
• A covariant formulation of classical electrodynamics for charges of finite extension
• The Classical Theories of Radiation Reaction

Cited In (13)

• Self-force: Computational Strategies
• The fields and self-force of a constantly accelerating spherical shell
• Self-force as probe of internal structure
• On the electromagnetic origin of inertia and inertial mass
• Identifying the singular field for self-force evaluation
• The electromagnetic self-force on a charged spherical body slowly undergoing a small, temporary displacement from a position of rest
• Electromagnetic self-force of a point charge from the rate of change of the momentum of its retarded self-field
• The origin of the Schott term in the electromagnetic self force of a classical point charge
• Interference in the radiation of two pointlike charges
• A matched expansion approach to practical self-force calculations
• The alternative to classical mass renormalization for tube-based self-force calculations
• Constructing the Self-Force
• Equivalence between self-energy and self-mass in classical electron model

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