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Electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor and elementary classical point charges

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Abstract

An energy-momentum tensor of electromagnetic fields associated with elementary classical point charges is constructed. This tensor represents finite amounts of energy-momentum and of corresponding fluxes. The differences between this tensor and the ordinary one, which is associated with continuously distributed charged matter, stem from the elementary nature of point charges. The new tensor is free of the 4/3 problem of the momentum of a point charge. Implications of the third-order Lorentz-Dirac equation are discussed.

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Comay, E. Electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor and elementary classical point charges. Int J Theor Phys 30, 1473–1487 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00675612

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00675612

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