The Abraham–Lorentz force and electrodynamics at the classical electron radius

Abstract

The Abraham–Lorentz force is a finite remnant of the UV singular structure of the self-interaction of a point charge with its own field. The satisfactory description of such an interaction needs a relativistic regulator. This turns out to be a problematic point because the energy of regulated relativistic cutoff theories is unbounded from below. However, one can construct point-splitting regulators which keep the Abraham–Lorentz force stable. The classical language can be reconciled with QED by pointing out that the effective quantum theory for the electric charge supports a saddle point producing the classical radiation reaction forces.