Understanding Electron Mass in Classical and Quantum Electrodynamics

[catlike]

Consider classical electron theory. Distinguish between the mechanical, electromagnetic, and observed electron mass. What is the degree of divergence of the classical electron self-energy?
What are the roles of mass-renormalization, runaway solutions, and preacceleration in classical electron theory?
What is the degree of divergence of the electron self-energy in quantum electrodynamics?

 

[Jano L.]

catlike,
I think that in classical theory, the divergence occurs only if you postulate that Poynting expressions are valid for point-like particle. But that is not justified.

If you assume it is point-like, there is no good reason to suppose its mass has anything to do with electromagnetic energy.
I do not know much of the quantum theory, but it is discussed by Weisskopf in the paper

http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PR/v56/i1/p72_1

and also in Schwebers book Introduction to Relativistic Quantum Theory.

J.