Self-force on a charged particle in an external scalar field

Noble, Adam and Burton, David A and Docherty, Lauren and Jaroszynski, Dino A (2021) Self-force on a charged particle in an external scalar field. New Journal of Physics, 23 (11). 115007. ISSN 1367-2630 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ac3262)

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Abstract

A charged particle subject to strong external forces will accelerate, and so radiate energy, inducing a self-force. This phenomenon remains contentious, but advances in laser technology mean we will soon encounter regimes where a more complete understanding is essential. The terms "self-force" and "radiation reaction" are often used synonymously, but reflect different aspects of the recoil force. For a particle accelerating in an electromagnetic field, radiation reaction is usually the dominant self-force, but in a scalar field this is not the case, and the total effect of the self-force can be anti-frictional. Aspects of this self-force can be recast in terms of spacetime geometry, and this interpretation illuminates the long-standing enigma of a particle radiating while experiencing no self-force.

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