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The origin of the Schott term in the electromagnetic self force of a classical point charge

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
Article number092902
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>09/2011
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Mathematical Physics
Issue number9
Volume52
Number of pages9
Pages (from-to)-
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The Schott term is the third order term in the electromagnetic self force of a charged point particle. The self force may be obtained by integrating the electromagnetic stress-energy-momentum tensor over the side of a narrow hypertube enclosing a section of worldline. This calculation has been repeated many times using two different hypertubes known as the Dirac tube and the Bhabha tube; however, in previous calculations using a Bhabha tube the Schott term does not arise as a result of this integration. In order to regain the Lorentz-Abraham-Dirac equation, many authors have added an ad hoc compensatory term to the non-electromagnetic contribution to the total momentum. In this article the Schott term is obtained by direct integration of the electromagnetic stress-energy-momentum tensor.