Review of Born-Infeld electrodynamics

Abstract

Born-Infeld (BI) electrodynamics is motivated by the infinite self-energy of the point charge in Maxwell electrodynamics. In BI electrodynamics, an upper bound $b$ is imposed on the electric field, thus limiting the self-energy of the point charge. This is a review paper in which we motivate the BI Lagrangian and from it derive the field equations. We find the stress-energy tensor in BI. We calculate the potential due to the point charge in BI. We find order $b^{-2}$ wave solutions to BI in $1+1$ dimensions. We examine BI plane waves normally incident on a mirror.