Forces between electric charges in motion: Rutherford scattering, circular Keplerian orbits, action-at-a-distance and Newton's third law in relativistic classical electrodynamics

摘要

Standard formulae of classical electromagnetism for the forces betweenelectric charges in motion derived from retarded potentials are compared withthose obtained from a recently developed relativistic classical electrodynamictheory with an instantaneous inter-charge force. Problems discussed includesmall angle Rutherford scattering, Jackson's recent `torque paradox' andcircular Keplerian orbits. Results consistent with special relativity areobtained only with an instantaneous interaction. The impossiblity of stablecircular motion with retarded fields in either classical electromagnetism orNewtonian gravitation is demonstrated.