-symmetric interpretation of the electromagnetic self-force. (30th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bender, Carl M; Gianfreda, Mariagiovanna
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 48:Number 34(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-07-30
• Subjects: runaway solutions -- electromagnetic self-force -- PT symmetry; 03.50.De -- 11.30.Er -- 03.65.-w -- 11.10.Ef; Mathematical physics -- Periodicals; Statistical physics -- Periodicals; Quantum theory -- Periodicals; Matter -- Properties -- Periodicals; 530.105
• DOI: 10.1088/1751-8113/48/34/34FT01
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8113

Abstract

Abstract: In 1980 Englert examined the classic problem of the electromagnetic self-force on an oscillating charged particle. His approach, which was based on an earlier idea of Bateman, was to introduce a time-reversed (charge-conjugate) particle and to show that the two-particle system is Hamiltonian. Unfortunately, Englert's model did not solve the problem of runaway modes, and the corresponding quantum theory had ghost states. It is shown here that Englert's Hamiltonian is symmetric, and that the problems with his model arise because the symmetry is broken at both the classical and the quantum level. However, by allowing the charged particles to interact and by adjusting the coupling parameters to put the model into an unbroken -symmetric region, one eliminates the classical nonrelativistic runaway modes and obtains a corresponding nonrelativistic quantum system that is in equilibrium and ghost free.