Unsolved Mystery: Accelerating Charges & Radiation Reaction Force

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of radiation from accelerating charges and the relationship between the energy carried away by radiation and the work done by the radiation reaction force. There is a graph and paper that suggest this is an unsolved problem, but it is only true for certain cases and not for uniform acceleration.
  • #1
user299792458
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It is often stated that ANY accelerating charge radiates, so this includes uniformly accelerating charges. But the radiation reaction force is proportional to the THIRD derivative of x, so it vanishes when acceleration is constant. What's the deal here?

Here's a graph which supposedly shows that the energy carried away by radiation (which is proportional to acceleration squared) is different than the work done by the radiation reaction force (which is proportional to velocity times the THIRD derivative of x). What's the deal with all of this?

http://physics.fullerton.edu/~jimw/general/radreact/radfig2.gif


And here's the full paper where this graph came from:

http://physics.fullerton.edu/~jimw/general/radreact/"


It seems the paper states that this is some kind of an unsolved problem or something. Is any of this true?
 
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  • #2
"It seems the paper states that this is some kind of an unsolved problem or something. Is any of this true?"

I'm not going to read the paper, but it is still an unsolved problem.
The x triple dot result is only for some special cases, not including uniform acceleration.
 
  • #3


I can provide some insights into this unsolved mystery of accelerating charges and radiation reaction force. The concept of a charge radiating when accelerating is well-established in classical electromagnetism. This is known as Larmor radiation, where an accelerating charge emits electromagnetic radiation in the form of photons.

However, the issue arises when considering the radiation reaction force, which is the force exerted on a charged particle due to its own radiation. This force is proportional to the third derivative of the particle's position, which means it is dependent on the rate of change of acceleration. This raises the question, what happens when the acceleration is constant?

As the graph and paper suggest, there seems to be a discrepancy between the energy carried away by radiation (proportional to acceleration squared) and the work done by the radiation reaction force (proportional to velocity times the third derivative of position). This has been a topic of debate and research among physicists for many years.

One possible explanation for this discrepancy is that there may be other factors at play, such as the presence of external fields or the effects of quantum mechanics. Another explanation could be that the concept of a point charge emitting radiation may not fully capture the complexity of the situation, and a more detailed analysis is needed.

It is worth noting that this is still an area of ongoing research and there is no definitive answer yet. However, this does not discredit the concept of radiation reaction force or the understanding of electromagnetic radiation. It simply highlights the need for further investigation and a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms at play.

In conclusion, while this may be considered an unsolved mystery, it is an exciting and challenging problem that drives scientific progress in the field of electromagnetism. As scientists, we continue to explore and uncover the mysteries of the universe, and this is just one of many that we are working to unravel.
 

What is the concept of accelerating charges and radiation reaction force?

The concept of accelerating charges and radiation reaction force is a phenomenon in physics where a charged particle that is accelerating experiences a force known as radiation reaction force. This force is caused by the emission of electromagnetic radiation as the charged particle changes direction or speed.

What are the implications of this phenomenon?

The implications of accelerating charges and radiation reaction force are significant in the fields of electromagnetism and relativity. It can affect the motion and behavior of charged particles, as well as the energy and momentum of the surrounding electromagnetic field.

What is the relationship between accelerating charges and radiation reaction force?

The relationship between accelerating charges and radiation reaction force is that any charged particle that is accelerating will experience a radiation reaction force. This force is proportional to the acceleration of the charged particle and the square of its charge.

What are some real-life examples of this phenomenon?

Some real-life examples of accelerating charges and radiation reaction force include the emission of radio waves from a moving charged particle, the emission of X-rays from an electron in an accelerating machine, and the creation of a magnetic field by an accelerating charged particle.

How do scientists study accelerating charges and radiation reaction force?

Scientists study accelerating charges and radiation reaction force through experiments, mathematical models, and simulations. They also use advanced technologies such as particle accelerators and detectors to observe and measure the effects of this phenomenon on different types of charged particles.

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