Comment on "Finite Size Corrections to the Radiation Reaction Force in Classical Electrodynamics" [arXiv:1005.2617]

TL;DR

This paper critiques a recent claim about finite size corrections to the electromagnetic radiation reaction force, affirming that the well-established textbook result remains valid and the claimed correction is incorrect.

Contribution

The authors refute a recent assertion that the linear R term in the self-force of a charged shell is incorrect, reaffirming the correctness of the classical textbook result.

Findings

The textbook result for the self-force of a charged shell is correct.

The claim that the linear R term should be absent is incorrect.

The paper clarifies the validity of classical electromagnetic self-force calculations.

Abstract

In [1, arXiv:1005.2617] effective field theory methods have been employed to compute the equations of motion of a spherically symmetric charged shell of radius R, taking into account the radiation reaction force exerted by the shell's own electromagnetic field up to O(R^2). The authors of Ref. [1] have stated that the known result for the self force of the shell as can be found from Eq. (16.28) of the textbook of Jackson [2] (see also Chap. 4 in the review of Pearle [3]) is incorrect, in that the term linear in R should be absent. We claim that this conclusion of Ref. [1] is incorrect, and that the textbook result, Eq. (1) does hold.