Time reversal in classical electromagnetism

Arntzenius, Frank and Greaves, Hilary (2007) Time reversal in classical electromagnetism.

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Abstract

Richard Feynman has claimed that anti-particles are nothing but particles `propagating backwards in time'; that time reversing a particle state always turns it into the corresponding anti-particle state. According to standard quantum field theory textbooks this is not so: time reversal does not turn particles into anti-particles. Feynman's view is interesting because, in particular, it suggests a nonstandard, and possibly illuminating, interpretation of the CPT theorem.

In this paper, we explore a classical analog of Feynman's view, in the context of the recent debate between David Albert and David Malament over time reversal in classical electromagnetism.

Commentary on:Malament, David (2003) "On the Time Reversal Invariance of Classical Electromagnetic Theory".
EPrint Type:Preprint
Keywords:Time reversal, electromagnetism, antiparticles
Subjects:Specific Sciences: Physics: Classical Physics
Specific Sciences: Physics: Symmetries/Invariances
Specific Sciences: Physics: Fields and Particles
ID Code:3280
Deposited By:Greaves, Hilary
Deposited On:06 April 2007

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