dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaThe Classical Electron Problem
| Authors | T. L. Gill, W. W. Zachary, J. Lindesay |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0405131 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0405131 |
| Journal | T. L. Gill, W. W. Zachary and J. Lindesay Found. Phys., 31 (2001) 1299 |
Abstract
In this paper, we construct a parallel image of the conventional Maxwell theory by replacing the observer-time by the proper-time of the source. This formulation is mathematically, but not physically, equivalent to the conventional form. The change induces a new symmetry group which is distinct from, but closely related to the Lorentz group, and fixes the clock of the source for all observers. The new wave equation contains an additional term (dissipative), which arises instantaneously with acceleration. This shows that the origin of radiation reaction is not the action of a "charge" on itself but arises from inertial resistance to changes in motion. This dissipative term is equivalent to an effective mass so that classical radiation has both a massless and a massive part. Hence, at the local level the theory is one of particles and fields but there is no self-energy divergence (nor any of the other problems). We also show that, for any closed system of particles, there is a global inertial frame and unique (invariant) global proper-time (for each observer) from which to observe the system. This global clock is intrinsically related to the proper clocks of the individual particles and provides a unique definition of simultaneity for all events associated with the system. We suggest that this clock is the historical clock of Horwitz, Piron, and Fanchi. At this level, the theory is of the action-at-a-distance type and the absorption hypothesis of Wheeler and Feynman follows from global conservation of energy.
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"abstract": "In this paper, we construct a parallel image of the conventional Maxwell\ntheory by replacing the observer-time by the proper-time of the source. This\nformulation is mathematically, but not physically, equivalent to the\nconventional form. The change induces a new symmetry group which is distinct\nfrom, but closely related to the Lorentz group, and fixes the clock of the\nsource for all observers. The new wave equation contains an additional term\n(dissipative), which arises instantaneously with acceleration. This shows that\nthe origin of radiation reaction is not the action of a \"charge\" on itself but\narises from inertial resistance to changes in motion. This dissipative term is\nequivalent to an effective mass so that classical radiation has both a massless\nand a massive part. Hence, at the local level the theory is one of particles\nand fields but there is no self-energy divergence (nor any of the other\nproblems). We also show that, for any closed system of particles, there is a\nglobal inertial frame and unique (invariant) global proper-time (for each\nobserver) from which to observe the system. This global clock is intrinsically\nrelated to the proper clocks of the individual particles and provides a unique\ndefinition of simultaneity for all events associated with the system. We\nsuggest that this clock is the historical clock of Horwitz, Piron, and Fanchi.\nAt this level, the theory is of the action-at-a-distance type and the\nabsorption hypothesis of Wheeler and Feynman follows from global conservation\nof energy.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0405131",
"authors": [
"T. L. Gill",
"W. W. Zachary",
"J. Lindesay"
],
"categories": [
"physics.class-ph",
"physics.hist-ph"
],
"journal_ref": "T. L. Gill, W. W. Zachary and J. Lindesay Found. Phys., 31 (2001)\n 1299",
"title": "The Classical Electron Problem",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0405131"
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