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Single-Particle Electrodynamics - Assassination Science

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Chapter 1<br />

Overview of this Thesis<br />

My interest in classical electromagnetism has waxed and waned, but<br />

never fallen to zero. The subject is ever fresh.<br />

—— J. D. Jackson (1974) [113]<br />

1.1 Introduction<br />

Most physicists do not share Jackson’s relative enthusiasm. Not only is interest<br />

in classical electrodynamics not generally positive-definite, it frequently<br />

crosses the axis altogether: the antipathy can be palpable.<br />

Classical electrodynamics is not “trendy”. It is, in the minds of many,<br />

a dead subject—a vein that was mined out long ago. Its reputation is not<br />

helped by the disturbing tendency for “new” results to be so revolutionary<br />

as to be incredible—literally. Many seasoned veterans of the field can relate<br />

to Feynman’s description [86] of another area of classical physics, since<br />

improved:<br />

I am getting nothing out of the meeting. I am learning nothing.<br />

Because there are no experiments this field is not an active<br />

one, so few of the best men are doing work in it. The result<br />

is that there are hosts of dopes here and it is not good for my<br />

19

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