Quantum Field Theory 5b - Classical Electrodynamics II

[Reupload to correct color encoding issues] We complete our discussion of the electron self-force problem and introduce the concept of (classical) mass renormalization.

[theDemongd]

This series is fantastic, so incredibly clear and easy to follow. Looking forward to the continuation!

[dof]

Awesome! This series shows why physics is the best damn subject to learn and how in this advanced age of science, you still do not have some fundamental answers.

[dafdaf]

Just started from your quantum series for the second time, I just wanna say thank you and hopefully you will continue producing this excellent work; very understandable.

[sabamacx]

Encoding is flawless, thank you @ViaScience. Hope you're staying healthy and well.

[dof]

Excellent! For the first time, I understand where the classical electron radius comes from. Thank you.

[hafizajiaziz]

Your meticulousness is terrifying.
I'm glad that you finally get to the point of discussing renormalization.

This is QED right? Are you going to talk QCD, QFD, Electroweak theory, Higgs mechanism etc.

[imaginingPhysics]

I would seem these arguments should to some extent hold for masses and gravity too. The sign of the acceleration and jerk terms would be opposite though since masses attract each other.
We can also infer from these arguments that collections of charges are a bit more difficult to accelerate than one would think from from just summing up their individual masses. One might say they have some "collective inertia".

[arsenzatikyan]

I can't wait next lecture. Thank you!!!

[alexgoldhaber]

3:52 - - The second term in the equation may be hard to understand but not to the point that you call it 'jerk'!

[jacquessmeets]

At 2:20. I repeated the calculation for the constant term in the self-force with jerk. Your result is a factor 2 too high (the 4 should be 2). This is also in agreement with equation 28.9 in Feynman's Lecture, Part II, 28.

[azertyQ]

14:20 - So then is the Dirac sea named that way ironically?

[theultimatereductionist]

God I LOVE the QUESTIONS you, and obviously all the physicists before you who worked this stuff out, keep asking & asking & asking themselves... questions I would HAVE NO idea to even think to ask: e.g. does the EM force of an electron create a self-force? What keeps the electron from flying apart?

[theultimatereductionist]

What are the analogous force formula, if any, to Coulomb's Law between charged particles, for the force between any other pair of paritcles? A neutron vs a tau neutrino? A muon vs a proton?

[mehmetalivat]

Thanks a lot.
What's your advice book for quantum electrodynamics.