Asymptotic structure of electrodynamics revisited

TL;DR

This paper revisits classical analyses of electrodynamics at infinity, highlighting overlaps with recent work and addressing controversial conclusions, to clarify the long-range structure of electromagnetic fields.

Contribution

It re-examines foundational results on null and timelike infinity in electrodynamics, contrasting them with recent analyses and clarifying the long-range structure of electromagnetic fields.

Findings

Recent analyses largely rediscover existing results

Some recent conclusions may be controversial

Revisiting older work clarifies the structure at infinity

Abstract

We point out that recently published analyses of null and timelike infinity and long-range structures in electrodynamics to large extent rediscover results present in literature. At the same time, some of the conclusions these recent works put forward may prove controversial. In view of these facts we find it desirable to revisit the analysis taken up more than two decades ago, starting from earlier works on null infinity by other authors.