Causality and Self-consistency in Classical Electrodynamics
Abstract
We present a pedagogical review of old inconsistencies of Classical Electrodynamics and of some new ideas that solve them. Problems with the electron equation of motion and with the non-integrable singularity of its self-field energy tensor are well known. They are consequences, we show, of neglecting terms that are null off the charge world-line but that give a non null contribution on its world-line. The electron self-field energy tensor is integrable without the use of any kind of renormalization; there is no causality violation and no conflict with energy conservation in the electron equation of motion, when its meaning is properly considered.
Cite
@article{arxiv.hep-th/9605014,
title = {Causality and Self-consistency in Classical Electrodynamics},
author = {Manoelito M. de Souza},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/9605014},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
Replaced with revised version, 4 improved figures and a new section discussing the physical meaning of terms in the electron equation of motion 11 pages, Revtex