2014/03/04 by Gerold Gründler, Gründler, Gerold · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Classical Physics (physics.class-ph) #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Mechanics and Applications
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1501.03516
openalex publication_date 2014/03/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The derivation of absorber theory is outlined in very detail. Absorber theory is based on classical action-at-a-distance electrodynamics, but it deviates from that theory at a crucial point. It is shown that (a) absorber theory cannot achieve any of it's essential results without this deviation, and that (b) this deviation restricts the application range of absorber theory to stationary radiation processes. Furthermore an error which crept into Wheeler's and Feynman's interpretation of their equation (19) is pointed out. These shortcomings can probably be eliminated by a quantum-theoretical formulation of absorber theory.