English

Interpretations and naturalness in the radiation-reaction problem

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2020-05-19 v1 High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

After more than a century of history, the radiation-reaction problem in classical electrodynamics still surprises and puzzles new generations of researchers. Here we revise and explain some of the paradoxical issues that one faces when approaching the problem, mostly associated with regimes of uniform proper acceleration. The answers we provide can be found in the literature and are the synthesis of a large body of research. We just present them in a personal way that may help in their understanding. Besides, after the presentation of the standard answers we motivate and present a twist to those ideas. The physics of emission of radiation by extended charges (charges with internal structure) might proceed in a surprising oscillating fashion. This hypothetical process could open up new research paths and a new take on the equivalence principle.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2005.08725,
  title  = {Interpretations and naturalness in the radiation-reaction problem},
  author = {Carlos Barceló and Luis J. Garay and Jaime Redondo-Yuste},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2005.08725},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

37 pages, 3 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-23T15:37:39.847Z