English

Where is the electrostatic self-energy localized in general relativity?

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2011-12-23 v1

Abstract

We discuss an alternative way of prescribing the spacetime geometry associated with a non-radiating distribution of charged matter. It is based on the possibility that the electrostatic self-energy does not reside on the Coulombian field but in a matter pressure term of electromagnetic origin localized at the sources. We work out completely the well controlled spherically symmetric case, questioning the realization of Reissner-Nordstrom geometry in nature. Finally, we sketch an experiment that could distinguish between the standard and the alternative scenario.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1112.5265,
  title  = {Where is the electrostatic self-energy localized in general relativity?},
  author = {Carlos Barcelo and Jose Luis Jaramillo},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1112.5265},
  year   = {2011}
}

Comments

5 pages, no figures

R2 v1 2026-06-21T19:55:42.419Z