| Paper |
Title |
Page |
| WEPCH073 |
Asymptotic Analysis of Ultra-relativistic Charge
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2086 |
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- D.A. Burton, J. Gratus, R. Tucker
Lancaster University, Lancaster
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A new approach is developed for analysing the dynamic behaviour of distributions of charged particles in an electromagnetic field. Noting the limitations inherent in the Lorentz-Dirac equation for a single point particle, a simple model is proposed for a charged continuum interacting self-consistently with the Maxwell field in vacuo. The model is developed using intrinsic tensor field theory and exploits to the full the symmetry and light-cone structure of Minkowski spacetime. This permits the construction of a regular stress-energy tensor whose vanishing divergence determines a system of non-linear partial differential equations for the velocity and self-fields of accelerated charge. Within this covariant framework a particular perturbation scheme is motivated by an exact class of solutions to this system describing the evolution of a charged fluid under the combined effects of both self and external electromagnetic fields. The scheme yields an asymptotic approximation in terms of inhomogeneous linear equations for the self-consistent Maxwell field, charge current and time-like velocity field of the charged fluid and is defined as an ultra-relativistic configuration.
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