Un-renormalized classical electromagnetism

Journal Article · Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Annals of Physics (New York)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2005.05.002· OSTI ID:20766982

Ibison, Michael ^[1]

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1. Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin, 4030 West Braker Lane, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78759 (United States)

This paper follows in the tradition of direct-action versions of electromagnetism having the aim of avoiding a balance of infinities wherein a mechanical mass offsets an infinite electromagnetic mass so as to arrive at a finite observed value. However, the direct-action approach ultimately failed in that respect because its initial exclusion of self-action was later found to be untenable in the relativistic domain. Pursing the same end, this paper examines instead a version of electromagnetism wherein mechanical action is excluded and self-action is retained. It is shown that the resulting theory is effectively interacting due to the presence of infinite forces. A vehicle for the investigation is a pair of classical point charges in a positronium-like arrangement for which the orbits are found to be self-sustaining and naturally quantized.

• OSTI ID: 20766982
• Journal Information: Annals of Physics (New York), Vol. 321, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.aop.2005.05.002; PII: S0003-4916(05)00087-4; Copyright (c) 2005 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-4916
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETISM
MASS
ORBITS
POINT CHARGE
POSITRONIUM
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
RENORMALIZATION