The Lorentz-Dirac Equation and the Physical Meaning of the Maxwell's Fields

Abstract

Classical Electrodynamics is not a consistent theory because of its field inadequate behaviour in the vicinity of their sources. Its problems with the electron equation of motion and with non-integrable singularity of the electron self field and of its stress tensor are well known. These inconsistencies are eliminated if the discrete and localized (classical photons) character of the electromagnetic interaction is anticipatively recognized already in a classical context. This is possible, in a manifestly covariant way, with a new model of spacetime structure, shown in a previous paper $^{1}$, that invalidates the Lorentz-Dirac equation. For a point classical electron there is no field singularity, no causality violation and no conflict with energy conservation in the electron equation of motion. The electromagnetic field must be re-interpreted in terms of average flux of classical photons. Implications of a singularity-free formalism to field theory are discussed.