Quantum statistical theory of radiation friction of a relativistic electron

Abstract

We comprehensively investigate the effect of quantum space-time nonlocality that accounts for retardation of the electron interaction with both the electron's own radiation field and the fluctuation field of the electromagnetic vacuum. We rigorously show that the quantum nonlocality effect eliminates the selfacceleration and the causality violation paradoxes that are inherent in the classical theory of radiation friction.

Plasmons in QED vacuum

“…(33) will be equivalent or nearly equivalent to the MSG equation (9). This assumption is partially supported by the results of a recent work [47].…”

“…It is the main purpose of the forthcoming analysis to find physically meaningful solutions of Eq. (9). In all the subsequent calculations, for modeling the polarization of electron-positron vacuum we adopt (see, e.g., [39])…”

“…The simplest solution of the linearized MSG equation (9), which satisfies conditions (14) and (15), i.e., the lowest linear normal mode, is given by…”

“…However, unlike the classical point electron, the Dirac electron possesses internal degrees of freedom, which are specified by the Dirac matrices. This leads to the quantum nonlocality effect discussed in, e.g., [8,9]. Allowance for such nonlocality on the Compton scales makes it possible to resolve the fundamental QED issue of an infinite electron self-energy.…”