English

Electrodynamics of massless charged particles

High Energy Physics - Theory 2015-06-19 v2 Classical Physics

Abstract

We derive the classical dynamics of massless charged particles in a rigorous way from first principles. Since due to ultraviolet divergences this dynamics does not follow from an action principle, we rely on a) Maxwell's equations, b) Lorentz- and reparameterization-invariance, c) local conservation of energy and momentum. Despite the presence of pronounced singularities of the electromagnetic field along Dirac-like strings, we give a constructive proof of the existence of a unique distribution-valued energy-momentum tensor. Its conservation requires the particles to obey standard Lorentz equations and they experience, hence, no radiation reaction. Correspondingly the dynamics of interacting classical massless charged particles can be consistently defined, although they do not emit bremsstrahlung end experience no self-interaction.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1405.4805,
  title  = {Electrodynamics of massless charged particles},
  author = {Kurt Lechner},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1405.4805},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

31 pages, no figures, version to appear in J. Math. Phys

R2 v1 2026-06-22T04:18:08.468Z