Interpretations and naturalness in the radiation-reaction problem

TL;DR

This paper revisits the classical radiation-reaction problem, clarifies paradoxes related to uniform acceleration, and proposes a novel perspective involving oscillating radiation emission from extended charges, potentially impacting the equivalence principle.

Contribution

It offers a personal synthesis of existing solutions to radiation-reaction paradoxes and introduces a new hypothesis about oscillating radiation emission in extended charges.

Findings

Clarifies paradoxes in uniform acceleration regimes

Synthesizes existing literature on radiation-reaction

Proposes a new oscillating emission hypothesis

Abstract

After more than a century of history, the radiation-reaction problem in classical electrodynamics still surprises and puzzles new generations of researchers. Here we revise and explain some of the paradoxical issues that one faces when approaching the problem, mostly associated with regimes of uniform proper acceleration. The answers we provide can be found in the literature and are the synthesis of a large body of research. We just present them in a personal way that may help in their understanding. Besides, after the presentation of the standard answers we motivate and present a twist to those ideas. The physics of emission of radiation by extended charges (charges with internal structure) might proceed in a surprising oscillating fashion. This hypothetical process could open up new research paths and a new take on the equivalence principle.