The radiation of a uniformly accelerated charge is beyond the horizon: a simple derivation
Camila de Almeida, Alberto Saa
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Revtex, 6 pages, 2 figures. v2: Some small corrections. v3: Citation of a earlier paper included. v4: Some stylistic changes. v5: Final version to appear in AJP
We show, by exploring some elementary consequences of the covariance of Maxwell's equations under general coordinate transformations, that, despite inertial observers can indeed detect electromagnetic radiation emitted from a uniformly accelerated charge, comoving observers will see only a static electric field. This simple analysis can help understanding one of the most celebrated paradoxes of last century.
The relationship between uniformly accelerated reference frames in flat spacetime and the uniform gravitational field is examined in a relativistic context. It is shown that, contrary to previous statements in the pages of this journal, equivalence does not break down in this context. No restrictions to Newtonian approximations or small enclosures are necessary.
A classical (non-quantum-mechanical) relativistic ideal gas in thermodynamic equilibrium in a uniformly accelerated frame of reference is studied using Gibbs's microcanonical and grand canonical formulations of statistical mechanics. Using these methods explicit expressions for the particle, energy and entropy density distributions are obtained, which are found to be in agreement with the well known results of the relativistic formulation of Boltzmann's kinetic theory. Explicit expressions for the total entropy, total energy and rest mass of the gas are obtained. The position of the center of …
An uniformly accelerated observer can build his proper system of coordinates in a delimited sector of the flat Minkowski spacetime. The properties of the position and time coordinate lines for such an observer are studied and compared with the coordinate lines for an inertial observer in a Penrose-Carter diagram for this spacetime.
Variables are separated in Maxwell equations by the Newman-Penrose method of isotropic complex tetrade in the uniformly accelerated spherical coordinate system. Particular solutions are obtained in terms of spin 1 spherical harmonics. PACS: 03.50.De
In the context of special relativity, we describe with detail the Doppler effect between a light source at rest and an observer in linear motion and constant proper acceleration. To have an Englis version of this article, ask the authors. ----- ^Ce special-relativeco ni detale priskribas lum-Doppleran efikon inter restanta fonto kaj observanto kun rektilinia movado kaj konstanta propra akcelo.
The electric field of a uniformly accelerated charge shows a plane of discontinuity, where the field extending only on one side of the plane, terminates abruptly on the plane with a finite value. This indicates a non-zero divergence of the electric field in a source-free region, implying a violation of Gauss law. In order to make the field compliant with Maxwell's equations everywhere, an additional field component, proportional to a $δ$-function at the plane of discontinuity, is required. Such a "$δ$-field" might be the electromagnetic field of the charge, moving with a uniform velocity appro…
Several new ideas related to Special and General Relativity are proposed. The black-box method is used for the synchronization of the clocks and the space axes between two inertial systems or two accelerated systems and for the derivation of the transformations between them. There are two consistent ways of defining the inputs and outputs to describe the transformations and relative motion between the systems. The standard approach uses a mixture of the two ways. By formulating the principle of special and general relativity as a symmetry principle we are able to specify these transformations …
The formula for the frequency shift of a plane-polarized light wave reflected from a uniformly moving mirror is derived directly from the constant light speed postulate and the basic principles of wave optics. Unlike the original derivation by Einstein, our derivation does not involve Lorentz transformations. As such, it lies within the scope of a first course in special relativity.
We show that the uniformly accelerated reference systems proposed by Einstein when introducing acceleration in the theory of relativity are Fermi-Walker coordinate systems. We then consider more general accelerated motions and, on the one hand we obtain Thomas precession and, on the other, we prove that the only accelerated reference systems that at any time admit an instantaneously comoving inertial system belong necessarily to the Fermi-Walker class.
We wish that this reply will initiate further examination on the currently-accepted formulation of electromagnetic radiation from an accelerated point charge. Further examination will at least clarify some ambiguities and misunderstanding in the current formulation, if the current formulation is indeed correct.
Electromagnetic fields of an accelerated charge are derived from the first principles using Coulomb's law and the relativistic transformations. The electric and magnetic fields are derived first for an instantaneous rest frame of the accelerated charge, without making explicit use of Gauss's law, an approach different from that available in the literature. Thereafter we calculate the electromagnetic fields for an accelerated charge having a non-relativistic motion. The expressions for these fields, supposedly accurate only to a first order in velocity $β$, surprisingly yield all terms exactly …
Photon emission from a uniformly accelerated charge is among the most mysterious physical phenomena. Theories based on the Lorentz-Abraham-Dirac equation mostly conclude that a uniformly accelerated point charge cannot feel radiation reaction. Such a conclusion suggests that the origin of the photon energy is unclear. In this paper, we determine the self-force of a uniformly accelerated charged sphere using the Lorentz force equation, with an assumption that the sphere is Lorentz-contracted during the acceleration. For large acceleration, the calculated self-force converges to the radiation re…
We examine here the discrepancy between the radiated power, calculated from the Poynting flux at infinity, and the power loss due to radiation reaction for an accelerated charge. It is emphasized that one needs to maintain a clear distinction between the electromagnetic power received by distant observers and the mechanical power loss undergone by the charge. In literature both quantities are treated as almost synonymous, the two in general could, however, be quite different. It is shown that in the case of a periodic motion, the two formulations do yield the power loss in a time averaged sens…
We present an elementary analysis of the effects on light reflected from a uniformly moving mirror by using the photon picture of light and the conservation laws for energy and momentum of the system photon-mirror. Such a dynamical approach to the problem seems very suitable for introductory physics courses, not requiring any previous knowledge in wave optics or special relativity.
After a review of the existing theory of non-inertial frames and mathematical observers in Minkowski space-time we give the explicit expression of a family of such frames obtained from the inertial ones by means of point-dependent Lorentz transformations as suggested by the locality principle. These non-inertial frames have non-Euclidean 3-spaces and contain the differentially rotating ones in Euclidean 3-spaces as a subcase. Then we discuss how to replace mathematical accelerated observers with dynamical ones (their world-lines belong to interacting particles in an isolated system) and of how…
