dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaLimits on the Applicability of Classical Electromagnetic Fields as Inferred from the Radiation Reaction
| Authors | Kirk T. McDonald |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0003062 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0003062 |
Abstract
Can the wavelength of a classical electromagnetic field be arbitrarily small, or its electric field strength be arbitrarily large? If we require that the radiation-reaction force on a charged particle in response to an applied field be smaller than the Lorentz force we find limits on the classical electromagnetic field that herald the need for a better theory, i.e., one in better accord with experiment. The classical limitations find ready interpretation in quantum electrodynamics. The examples of Compton scattering and the QED critical field strength are discussed. It is still open to conjecture whether the present theory of QED is valid at field strengths beyond the critical field revealed by a semiclassical argument.
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"abstract": "Can the wavelength of a classical electromagnetic field be arbitrarily small,\nor its electric field strength be arbitrarily large? If we require that the\nradiation-reaction force on a charged particle in response to an applied field\nbe smaller than the Lorentz force we find limits on the classical\nelectromagnetic field that herald the need for a better theory, i.e., one in\nbetter accord with experiment. The classical limitations find ready\ninterpretation in quantum electrodynamics. The examples of Compton scattering\nand the QED critical field strength are discussed. It is still open to\nconjecture whether the present theory of QED is valid at field strengths beyond\nthe critical field revealed by a semiclassical argument.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0003062",
"authors": [
"Kirk T. McDonald"
],
"categories": [
"physics.class-ph"
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"title": "Limits on the Applicability of Classical Electromagnetic Fields as Inferred from the Radiation Reaction",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0003062"
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