ENERGY MOMENTUM CONSERVATION AND SOME OF ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CLASSICAL PARTICLE.
Abstract
Mechanical energy and momentum (e-m) has an equivalent counterpart in electromagnetic energy and momentum (e-m) and vice versa if conservation is assumed for the sum of these two fundamental manifestations of e-m. The classical particle concept is reconsidered in the spirit of Kwal's emphasis on an invariant relation between the e-m tensor and the e-m vector. The notion of a mass-carrying particle is specified by introducing a concept of physical rigidity which permits a straight-forward definition of states of rest and motion of particles and their associated fields. It then follows that an optional electromagnetic interpretation of rest-mass applies to every particle-like object which in a rest-frame is surrounded by an electrostatic or a magnetostatic field (for example, (+) and (-) pion, neutron and anti-neutron). The conclusion also holds for particles characterized by a combination of an electric monopole and a magnetic dipole (for example, positron and electron), provided some simple symmetry requirements are met. The electromagnetic option for a neutral particle without a magnetic moment but with a rest mass (for example, pion and K meson) is that of a (temporarily) trapped standing wave. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0610070
Entities
People
- E. J. Post
Organizations
- Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories