On the nonradiating motion of point charges

Abstract

We investigate the possible existence of nonradiating motions of systems of point charges, according to classical electrodynamics with retarded potentials. We prove that two point particles of arbitrary electric charges cannot move for an infinitely long time within a finite region of space without radiating electromagnetic energy. We show however with an example that nonradiating accelerated motions of systems of point charges do in general exist.