RADIATION DAMPING IN A GRAVITATIONAL FIELD

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1960 · Annals of Physics (New York) (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4916(60)90030-0· OSTI ID:4191447

DeWitt, B S; Brehme, R W

The validity of the principle of equivalence is examined relative to a charged mass point moving in an externally given gravitational field. The precedure is a covariant generalization of Dirac's work on the classical radiating electron. Just as Dirac's calculation was kept Lorentz invariant throughout, the present calculation is maintained generally covariant throughout. With the aid of bi-tensors, which are nonlocal generalizations of ordinary local tensors, the manifest general covariance of each step is achieved. The Green's functions for the scalar and vector wave equations in a curved manifold are obtained and applied to the derivation of the covariant Lienard-Wiechert potentials. The computation of energy-momentum balance across a world tube of infinitesimal radius surrounding the particle world-line then leads to the ponderomotive equations including radiation damping. Because of the nonlocal electromagnetic field which a charged particle carries with itself, its use as a device to distinguish locally between gravitational and inertial fields is really not allowable. An explicit occurrence of the Riemann tensor in the ponderomotive equations is found which shows that acceleration by a "true" gravitational field can produce bremsstrahlung, thereby causing a reactive force in addition to the force of inertia. The particle tries to satisfy the equivalence principle in spite of its charge. It is only prevented from doing so (i,e., from following a geodetic path) because the electromagnetic Green's function in a curved spacetime does not generally vanish inside the light cone, but gives rise to a "tail" on any initially sharp pulse of radiation. The ponderomotive equations have exactly the same form as Dirac found for the flat-space-time case except for the addition of an integral over the entire past history of the particle, representing the effect of the "tail." (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• NSA Number: NSA-14-009894
• OSTI ID: 4191447
• Journal Information: Annals of Physics (New York) (U.S.), Journal Name: Annals of Physics (New York) (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 9; ISSN APNYA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ASTROPHYSICS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CHARGED PARTICLES
DIRAC EQUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ENERGY
EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORY
GRAVITATION
GREEN FUNCTION
LIENARD-WIECHERT POTENTIAL
MATHEMATICS
MOMENTUM
MOTION
NUMERICALS
PHYSICS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
RADIATIONS
RECOILS
RELATIVITY THEORY
RIEMANN SPACE
SPACE
TENSORS
VECTORS