Electromagnetic self-force for axially symmetric charge on a spherical shell

Abstract

We obtain the fields and electromagnetic self-force of a charge distributed on the surface of a sphere undergoing rigid motion at constant proper acceleration, where the charge distribution has axial symmetry about the direction of motion. A closed-form expression for the self-force is given in terms of the multipole moments of the charge distribution. Applications to the electrodynamics of a dipole, and to electromagnetic self-force near a horizon (in spacetime) are discussed.