There is considerable misunderstanding in the literature concerning time in classical electrodynamics. The following conceptual exposition focuses on three points: advanced radiation exists mathematically but not physically; there exists an asymmetry of time due to radiation; and the equations of motion of charged particles are invariant under time reversal. These three points are mutually consistent.
REFERENCES
1.
F.
Rohrlich
, “Time reversal invariance and the arrow of time in classical electro-dynamics
,” Phys. Rev. E
72
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See, for example,
J. D.
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, 3rd ed. (Wiley
, New York, 1999
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F.
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F.
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(Addison-Wesley
, New York, 1965, 1990
). The time reversal transformation given on pp. 248ff, is incorrect. See the Appendix.6.
F.
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, “Realism despite cognitive antireductionism
,” Int. Stud. Phil. Sci.
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, 73
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J. M.
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, New York, 1976
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See Ref. 7, Appendix A1. These photon propagators have various names: Feynman propagator or causal propagator are the most common.
9.
J. A.
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W.
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See, for example,
D. J.
Griffith
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, 3rd ed. (Prentice-Hall
, Englewood, NJ, 1999
), p. 425
.© 2006 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2006
American Association of Physics Teachers
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