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Nonlinear electromagnetism and the problem of point charge motion
ProbabilitySpeaker: | Michael Kiessling, Rutgers University |
Location: | 2112 MSB |
Start time: | Mon, Jan 14 2013, 4:10PM |
In the 1930s Max Born suggested that the ultraviolet divergence problems of electrodynamics (both classical and quantum) associated with point charges would not show up if one uses suitable nonlinear field equations. He also suggested that the nonlinear nature of the field equations would determine the motion of the point charges. I review what is known rigorously about his ideas, and whereto they have led us so far.