A New Case for Direct Action

TL;DR

This paper proposes a modified direct action electromagnetic theory that retains self-action but eliminates infinite self-energy, making the energy finite and zero for null motion, addressing a key obstacle in classical electromagnetism.

Contribution

It introduces a small modification to the traditional direct action theory to resolve the infinite self-energy problem in classical electromagnetism.

Findings

Self-energy becomes finite and zero for null motion.

The modification overcomes a major obstacle in direct action electromagnetism.

Abstract

An obstacle to the development of direct action version of electromagnetism was that in the end it failed to fulfill its initial promise of avoiding the problem of infinite Coulomb self-energy in the Maxwell theory of the classical point charge. This paper suggests a small but significant modification of the traditional direct action theory which overcomes that obstacle. Self-action is retained but the associated energy is rendered finite and equal to zero in the special case of null motion.