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Mass change and motion of a scalar charge in cosmological spacetimes
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Submitted 22 Nov 2004
abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review
The authors' main claim We show that the net effect of the self-force is to push on the particle.
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The abstract, sentence by sentence
Continuing previous work reported in an earlier paper [L.M. Burko, A.I. Harte, and E. Poisson, Phys. Rev. D 65, 124006 (2002)] we calculate the self-force acting on a point scalar charge in a wide class of cosmological spacetimes. The self-force produces two types of effect. The first is a time-changing inertial mass, and this is calculated exactly for a particle at rest relative to the cosmological fluid. We show that for certain cosmological models, the mass decreases and then increases back to its original value. For all other models except de Sitter spacetime, the mass is restored only to a fraction of its original value. For de Sitter spacetime the mass steadily decreases. The second effect is a deviation relative to geodesic motion, and we calculate this for a charge that moves slowly relative to the dust in a matter-dominated cosmology. We show that the net effect of the self-force is to push on the particle. We show that this is not an artifact of the scalar theory: The electromagnetic self-force acting on an electrically charged particle also pushes on the particle. The paper concludes with a demonstration that the pushing effect can also occur in the context of slow-motion electrodynamics in flat spacetime.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | Continuing previous work reported in an earlier paper [L.M. Burko, A.I. Harte, and E. | background 0.97 | 0.12 | 0.01 | unclear 0.88 |
| s1 | Poisson, Phys. Rev. D 65, 124006 (2002)] we calculate the self-force acting on a point scalar charge in a wide class of cosmological spacetimes. | contribution 0.90 | 0.81 | 0.05 | asserted 0.98 |
| s2 | The self-force produces two types of effect. | result 0.53 | 0.51 | 0.06 | asserted 0.98 |
| s3 | The first is a time-changing inertial mass, and this is calculated exactly for a particle at rest relative to the cosmological fluid. | contribution 0.57 | 0.93 | 0.12 | asserted 1.00 |
| s4 | We show that for certain cosmological models, the mass decreases and then increases back to its original value. | result 1.00 | 0.94 | 0.13 | asserted 1.00 |
| s5 | For all other models except de Sitter spacetime, the mass is restored only to a fraction of its original value. | result 1.00 | 0.90 | 0.11 | asserted 1.00 |
| s6 | For de Sitter spacetime the mass steadily decreases. | result 1.00 | 0.90 | 0.10 | asserted 1.00 |
| s7 | The second effect is a deviation relative to geodesic motion, and we calculate this for a charge that moves slowly relative to the dust in a matter-dominated cosmology. | contribution 0.77 | 0.94 | 0.06 | asserted 0.93 |
| s8 | We show that the net effect of the self-force is to push on the particle. | result 1.00 | 0.95 | 0.28 | asserted 1.00 |
| s9 | We show that this is not an artifact of the scalar theory: The electromagnetic self-force acting on an electrically charged particle also pushes on the particle. | result 0.71 | 0.83 | 0.17 | asserted 1.00 |
| s10 | The paper concludes with a demonstration that the pushing effect can also occur in the context of slow-motion electrodynamics in flat spacetime. | result 0.86 | 0.92 | 0.19 | asserted 0.97 |
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The paper
Original abstract
Continuing previous work reported in an earlier paper [L.M. Burko, A.I. Harte, and E. Poisson, Phys. Rev. D 65, 124006 (2002)] we calculate the self-force acting on a point scalar charge in a wide class of cosmological spacetimes. The self-force produces two types of effect. The first is a time-changing inertial mass, and this is calculated exactly for a particle at rest relative to the cosmological fluid. We show that for certain cosmological models, the mass decreases and then increases back to its original value. For all other models except de Sitter spacetime, the mass is restored only to a fraction of its original value. For de Sitter spacetime the mass steadily decreases. The second effect is a deviation relative to geodesic motion, and we calculate this for a charge that moves slowly relative to the dust in a matter-dominated cosmology. We show that the net effect of the self-force is to push on the particle. We show that this is not an artifact of the scalar theory: The electromagnetic self-force acting on an electrically charged particle also pushes on the particle. The paper concludes with a demonstration that the pushing effect can also occur in the context of slow-motion electrodynamics in flat spacetime.
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References
How the literature uses it
6 arXiv papers cite this in 10 sentences
Papers citing it · 5 sentences without a confident label
Contests it 1 paper
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This result contradicts Haas et al. [ref] , who derive their result using conformal coordinates, integrating the equations within a small parameter approximation.
Electromagnetic fields and charges in expanding universes · Charges in conformally flat space-times · contest 0.83
Uses its method or tool 1 paper
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Following the approach implemented in Refs. [ref] , by substituting [equation] in Eq. [ref], we find [equation] The above equation is similar to the equation for the Green's function in flat spacetime.
Cosmological memory effect in scalar-tensor theories · The retarded gravitational field · 1.00
Compares with it 1 paper
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We found that it matches a Green's function derived by Chu [ref] , and compared our results with other proposals [ref] .
Cosmological perturbation theory of primordial compact sources · Conclusion · 0.99
Cites it as background 1 paper
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It is possible to construct a scalar field theory where the particle's rest mass is conserved but only at the cost of making the field equation non-linear [ref] .) Previous studies of this phenomenon in cosmological spacetimes [ref] have found a range of possibilities including a periodic mass variation as well as cases where the mass dissipates entirely.
Self force on a scalar charge in Kerr spacetime: eccentric equatorial orbits · Variation of rest mass · 0.81
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