Chapter 5 Part 2

5.2.
Point charges
5.2.1 Power Radiated by a Point Charge
In Chapter 4 we derived the fields of a point charge q in arbitrary motion
q
where and
The first term in Electric field equation is called the velocity field, and the second one
(with the triple cross-product) is called the acceleration field.
The Poynting vector is
The velocity fields carry energy as the charge moves this energy is dragged along, but
it's not radiation.
Only the acceleration fields represent true radiation (hence their other name, radiation
fields):
Since 𝐸𝑟𝑎𝑑 is perpendicular to so the second term in

equation 𝑆𝑟𝑎𝑑 vanishes:
If the charge is instantaneously at rest (at time 𝑡𝑟 ), then q
and
In that case
where 𝜃 is the angle between and a. No power is radiated in the forward or

backward direction rather, it is emitted in a donut about the direction of
instantaneous acceleration.
The total power radiated is evidently
or
This is called the Larmor formula,
The above equation derived on the assumption 𝑣 = 0, actually hold to good
approximation as long as 𝑣 ≪ 𝑐.
▪ An exact treatment of the case 𝑣 ≠ 0 is more difficult. both for the obvious
reason that 𝐸𝑟𝑎𝑑 is more complicated, and also for the more subtle reason
that 𝑆𝑟𝑎𝑑 , the rate at which energy passes through the sphere, is not the same
as the rate at which energy left the particle.
▪ Suppose someone is firing a stream of bullets out the window of a moving
car. The rate 𝑁𝑡 at which the bullets strike a stationary target is not the same
as the rate 𝑁𝑔 at which they left the gun, because of the motion of the car. In
fact, you can easily check that if the car is moving towards
the target, and
▪ In our case, if 𝑑𝑊/𝑑𝑡 is the rate at which energy passes through the sphere
at radius , then the rate at which energy left the charge was
But
«c
which is precisely the ratio of 𝑁𝑔 to 𝑁𝑡 ; it's a purely geometrical factor (the same
as in the Doppler effect).
The power radiated by the particle into a patch of area on
the sphere is therefore given by
where is the solid angle into which this power is radiated.

Integrating over 𝜃 and ∅ to get the total power radiated is no picnic,
of the Larmor formula

The factor 𝛾 6 means that the radiated power increases enormously as the
velocity approaches the speed of light.
5.2.2 Radiation Reaction
Radiation from an accelerating charge carries off energy, resulting in reduction of the particle’s
kinetic energy.
→ Under a given force, therefore, a charged particle accelerates less than a neutral one of the
same mass.
→ The radiation evidently exerts a force (Frad) back on the charge – recoil (or, radiation
reaction) force.
For a nonrelativistic particle (v « c) the total power radiated is given by the Larmor formula:
Conservation of energy suggests that this is also the rate at which the particle loses energy,
under the influence of the radiation reaction force 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑑 :
The energy lost by the particle in any given time interval:
If the motion is periodic-the velocities and accelerations are identical at 𝑡1 and𝑡2 , or if 𝑣 . 𝑎

= 0 at 𝑡1 and 𝑡2 ,
Abraham- Lorentz formula

for the radiation reaction force.
Radiation Reaction
Abraham-Lorentz formula
for the radiation reaction force
For suppose a particle is subject to no external forces (F = 0); then Newton's second law says
➔ In the case of the electron,  = 6 x 10-24 s. → only the time taken for light to travel ~ 10-15 m
➔ The acceleration spontaneously increases exponentially with time!

→ “runaway” under no external force!
If you do apply an external force,

F
ma = Frad + F , Frad =  a  a =  a + : Abraham-Lorentz equation of motion
m
If an external force is applied to the particle for times t > 0, the equation of motion predicts “preaccelaeration”
before the force is actually applied.
(Problem 11.19 ) Assume that a particle is subjected to a constant force F, beginning at time t
= 0 and lasting until time T. Show that you can either eliminate the runaway in region (iii) or
avoid preacceleration in region (i), but not both.
Radiation Reaction
Example 11.4
Calculate the radiation damping of a charged particle attached to a spring of
natural frequency 𝜔𝑜 , driven at frequency 𝜔.
Solution
The equation of motion is
With the system oscillating at frequency 𝜔,
Therefore
and the damping factor 𝛾 is given by
We now know that radiation damping, at least. is proportional to

5.2.3 The Physical Basis of the Radiation Reaction
Consider a moving charge with an extended charge distribution:
In general, the electromagnetic force of one part (A) on another part (B) is not equal and
opposite to the force of B on A.
Let’s simplify the situation into a “bumble” : the total charge q is divided into two halves
separated by a fixed d:
➔ In the point limit (d → 0), it must yield the Abraham-Lorentz formula.
The electric field at (1) due to (2) is
The first term ~ E0

The second term survives in the "point dumbbell" limit d → 0:
This term (x 2) is equal to the radiation reaction force given by the Abraham-Lorentz
formula! ➔ In conclusion, “the radiation reaction is due to the force of the charge on itself
(“self-force”).
5.2.4 Bremsstrahlung
It is a German word that literally means “braking radiation”.
It is the radiation process that occurs when charged particles decelerate (brake) by
collisions with other particles.
When moving charge particle integrates with another charge particle it losses K.E
which is connected in to radiation satisfying law of conservation of energy.
Example 11.3
Suppose 𝑣 and 𝑎 are instantaneously collinear (at time 𝑡𝑟 ), as, for example, in
straight-line motion. Find the angular distribution of the radiation equation
and the total power emitted.

Solution
In this case so
Now
In particular, if we let the z axis point along 𝑣, then

5.2.4 Bremsstrahlung
The total power emitted is found by integrating the above equation over all
angles:
The ø integral is 2π; the θ integral is simplified by the substitution 𝑥 = cos 𝜃
Integration by parts yields and I conclude that
Notice that the angular distribution of the radiation is the same whether the particle is
accelerating or decelerating; it only depends on the square of 𝑎, and is concentrated in the
forward direction (with respect to the velocity) in either case. When a high speed electron
hits a metal target it rapidly decelerates, giving off what is called bremsstrahlung, or
"braking radiation:·
What I have described in this example is essentially the classical theory of bremsstrahlung.

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5.2.

Since 𝐸𝑟𝑎𝑑 is perpendicular to so the second term in

where 𝜃 is the angle between and a. No power is radiated in the forward or

where is the solid angle into which this power is radiated.

of the Larmor formula

If the motion is periodic-the velocities and accelerations are identical at 𝑡1 and𝑡2 , or if 𝑣 . 𝑎

Abraham- Lorentz formula

➔ The acceleration spontaneously increases exponentially with time!

If you do apply an external force,

With the system oscillating at frequency 𝜔,

and the damping factor 𝛾 is given by

We now know that radiation damping, at least. is proportional to

The first term ~ E0

and the total power emitted.

In particular, if we let the z axis point along 𝑣, then

The ø integral is 2π; the θ integral is simplified by the substitution 𝑥 = cos 𝜃

Integration by parts yields and I conclude that

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