Radiation from a Uniformly Accelerated Charge

Abstract

The emission of radiation by a uniformly accelerated charge is analyzed. According to the standard approach, a radiation is observed whenever there is a relative acceleration between the charge and the observer. Analyzing difficulties that arose in the standard approach, we propose that a radiation is created whenever a relative acceleration between the charge and its own electric field exists. The electric field induced by a charge accelerated by an external (nongravitational) force is not accelerated with the charge. Hence the electric field is curved in the instantaneous rest frame of the accelerated charge. This curvature gives rise to a stress force, and the work done to overcome the stress force is the source of the energy carried by the radiation. In this way, the “energy balance paradox” finds its solution.