Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales

In summary, Feynman discusses in the Feynman Lectures that Coulomb's law may break down at distances shorter than 10^-14 cm. This question has been explored since around 1935 and is linked to charge renormalization, specifically the Uehling equation. Further information can be found in the links provided.
  • #1
Djinn
6
0
I read in the Feynman Lectures, section 5-8 in Volume 2, that Coulomb's law may begin to break down at distance scales shorter than 10^-14 cm.

Feynman says that, at the time of his lecture, the question was still open. Does anyone have any new information on this question?

Thanks,

Djinn
 
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  • #2
Coulomb's 1/r2 Law breaks down at distances shorter than an electron Compton wavelength (~3.8 x 10-11 cm) due to charge renormalization (Uehling equation). This renormalization has been known since about 1935. Are you talking about something else?
Bob S
 
  • #3
Is there a simple explanation to this break down?



DaTario
 

1. What is Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales?

Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales is a variation of the original Coulomb's Law, which describes the force between two charged particles at a distance. At very short distance scales, this law takes into account the quantum mechanical effects that occur when particles are extremely close together.

2. How is Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales different from the original Coulomb's Law?

Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales includes additional factors, such as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, that affect the force between charged particles at extremely close distances. This variation is necessary to accurately describe the behavior of particles at the quantum level.

3. What are the implications of Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales?

Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales has significant implications for the behavior of particles at the subatomic level. It helps to explain phenomena such as the strong and weak nuclear forces, which are responsible for holding atoms and their subatomic particles together.

4. How does Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales relate to other fundamental forces?

Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales is just one aspect of the larger field of quantum electrodynamics, which describes the electromagnetic force between charged particles. It is also related to other fundamental forces, such as the strong and weak nuclear forces, which are described by different laws.

5. Can Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales be experimentally tested?

Yes, Coulomb's Law at Very Short Distance Scales has been tested and confirmed through various experiments, including those involving high-energy particle collisions. These experiments have provided evidence for the existence of the strong and weak nuclear forces and have helped to further our understanding of subatomic particles and their behavior.

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