Disguised Electromagnetic Connections in Classical Electron Theory

TL;DR

This paper revisits classical electron theory by incorporating electromagnetic zero-point radiation and special relativity, revealing how matter-radiation interactions can be disguised and establishing conditions for equilibrium potentials.

Contribution

It extends classical electron theory to include zero-point radiation and relativity, clarifying the conditions for equilibrium potentials and matter-radiation interactions.

Findings

Steady-state interactions are disguised, with matter appearing to move without radiation emission.

Harmonic oscillator potential is consistent with zero-point radiation in nonrelativistic cases.

Coulomb potential is consistent with relativistic electrodynamics.

Abstract

In the first quarter of the 20th century, physicists were not aware of the existence of classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation nor of the importance of special relativity. Inclusion of these aspects allows classical electron theory to be extended beyond its 19th century successes. Here we review spherical electromagnetic radiation modes in a conducting-walled spherical cavity and connect these modes to classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation and to electromagnetic scale invariance. Then we turn to the scattering of radiation in classical electron theory within a simple approximation. We emphasize that, in steady-state, the interaction between matter and radiation is disguised so that the mechanical motion appears to occur without the emission of radiation, even though the particle motion is actually driven by classical electromagnetic radiation. It is pointed out that, for nonrelativistic particles, only the harmonic oscillator potential taken in the low-velocity limit allows a consistent equilibrium with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation. For relativistic particles, only the Coulomb potential is consistent with electrodynamics. The classical analysis places restrictions on the value of $e^{2}/\hbar c$.