Radiation reaction in nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.15.2850· OSTI ID:7259064

Moniz, Ernest J. ^[1]; Sharp, D. H. ^[2]

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1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Lab. for Nuclear Science and Dept. of Physics
2. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

We derive the Heisenberg operator equation of motion for a nonrelativistic point electron coupled to the quantized electromagnetic field, including radiation reaction. The derivation proceeds in close analogy with the classical theory of extended charges (with the Compton wavelength formally playing the role of a size parameter), and we give a systematic treatment of the classical problem, showing explicitly from the equation of motion that the classical theory shows no runaway solutions or preacceleration when the electron size exceeds the classical electron radius. In the quantum-mechanical case, we show that the electrostatic self-energy of a point electron is zero and that, for values of the fine-structure constant α ≲ 1, the equation of motion admits neither runaway solutions nor noncausal motion. Furthermore, the correspondence limit of the solutions to the quantum-mechanical equation of motion agrees with that of the Lorentz-Dirac theory in the classical regime, but without the imposition of additional conditions and with no possibility of observable noncausality. Thus, a consistent picture of a classical point electron emerges in the correspondence limit of the quantum-mechanical theory.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Lab. for Nuclear Science and Dept. of Physics
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 7259064
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 15; ISSN 0556-2821; ISSN PRVDAQ
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
FERMIONS
FIELD THEORIES
HEISENBERG PICTURE
LEPTONS
LORENTZ FORCE
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
PERTURBATION THEORY
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
RENORMALIZATION