Relativistic dynamics of a charged sphere: updating the Lorentz-Abraham model

Arthur Yaghjian0387978879

This book takes a fresh and novel approach to century-old problems and their solution. The primary purpose is to determine an equation of motion for the classical Lorentz model of the electron that is consistent with causal solutions to the Maxwell – Lorentz equations. The author observes among other things that one does not need quantum mechanics to exclude the unphysical solution (to the equation of motion of a charge). In fact he shows for the first time that the classical theory is consistent in itself. The book will be highly welcome to physicists, and historians and philosophers of science, both students and researchers.