Advanced Potentials and their Application to Atomic Models

Abstract

Generalized emission theory of electromagnetic fields assuming advanced as well as retarded potentials.—In order to reconcile electromagnetic theory with radiationless orbits, Nordstrom suggested the possibility of the fields of electrons being half retarded and half advanced, instead of being wholly retarded as usually assumed. On the emission theory this would mean that each electron is the focus of converging streams of moving elements which pass through it undeflected. Simple one-way series for the simultaneous potentials and intensities due to such a point charge are developed, and it is shown that all damping terms disappear and that the electron is capable of describing a radiationless orbit of the Bohr type, while the mass reaction is the same as for the customary retarded field. The radiation emitted during a full period vanishes, since the converging waves which constitute the advanced portion of the field bring the electron as much energy as it loses by the emission of diverging retarded waves. Nevertheless fluctuations of energy would take place during each period, and the converging and diverging waves should combine to form standing waves. The absence of any evidence for such waves constitutes a serious objection to the theory.