What is it about?
A solution is presented for the outstanding problem of formulating a classical relativistic dynamics for many-particle systems via a Lagrangian. The Fokker-Wheeler-Feynman approach is both modified and generalized to yield a class of model systems, all of which obey causality, have the same physically acceptable properties, and satisfy the Poincaré group.
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Why is it important?
Perhaps the most significant result since Richard Feynman used the Fokker-Wheeler-Feynman (FWF) theory to create quantum electrodynamics and path integral formulations. This shows that the FWF theory can be recast in a completely causal by rewriting the advanced Liénard-Wiechert potential of particle i on j to a retarded potential of particle j on i.
Perspectives
This gives a basis for the Darwin Lagrangian and the Breit Hamiltonian which is successfully used in relativistic quantum chemistry.
Dr Tony Cyril Scott
RWTH-Aachen University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Relativistic, many-particle Lagrangean for electromagnetic interactions, Physical Review Letters, August 1987, American Physical Society (APS),
DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.59.525.
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