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Title: Variational principle and energy-momentum tensor for relativistic electrodynamics of point charges

Abstract

We give a new representation as tempered distribution for the energy-momentum tensor of a system of charged point-particles, which is free from divergent self-interactions, manifestly Lorentz-invariant and symmetric, and conserved. We present a covariant action for this system, that gives rise to the known Lorentz-Dirac equations for the particles and entails, via Noether theorem, this energy-momentum tensor. Our action is obtained from the standard action for classical electrodynamics, by means of a new Lorentz-invariant regularization procedure, followed by a renormalization. The method introduced here extends naturally to charged p-branes and arbitrary dimensions.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita degli Studi di Padova (Italy) and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova, Via F. Marzolo, 8, 35131 Padova (Italy)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20976759
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Annals of Physics (New York)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 322; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.aop.2006.07.002; PII: S0003-4916(06)00136-9; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0003-4916
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; BRANES; COSMOLOGICAL MODELS; DIRAC EQUATION; ELECTRODYNAMICS; ENERGY-MOMENTUM TENSOR; INTERACTIONS; LORENTZ INVARIANCE; MANY-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; POINT CHARGE; RELATIVISTIC RANGE; RENORMALIZATION; STRING THEORY; VARIATIONAL METHODS

Citation Formats

Lechner, K, and Marchetti, P A. Variational principle and energy-momentum tensor for relativistic electrodynamics of point charges. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1016/j.aop.2006.07.002.
Lechner, K, & Marchetti, P A. Variational principle and energy-momentum tensor for relativistic electrodynamics of point charges. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2006.07.002
Lechner, K, and Marchetti, P A. 2007. "Variational principle and energy-momentum tensor for relativistic electrodynamics of point charges". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2006.07.002.
@article{osti_20976759,
title = {Variational principle and energy-momentum tensor for relativistic electrodynamics of point charges},
author = {Lechner, K and Marchetti, P A},
abstractNote = {We give a new representation as tempered distribution for the energy-momentum tensor of a system of charged point-particles, which is free from divergent self-interactions, manifestly Lorentz-invariant and symmetric, and conserved. We present a covariant action for this system, that gives rise to the known Lorentz-Dirac equations for the particles and entails, via Noether theorem, this energy-momentum tensor. Our action is obtained from the standard action for classical electrodynamics, by means of a new Lorentz-invariant regularization procedure, followed by a renormalization. The method introduced here extends naturally to charged p-branes and arbitrary dimensions.},
doi = {10.1016/j.aop.2006.07.002},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20976759}, journal = {Annals of Physics (New York)},
issn = {0003-4916},
number = 5,
volume = 322,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}