The Absolute Field Constant in the New Field Theory
Abstract
IN the modification of Maxwell's theory proposed by one of us1, the notion of an `absolute field', called b, played an essential part. In the electrostatic case, the universal constant b is simply the upper limit of the field strength, whilst in the general case of an arbitrary field, b sets a limit to the possible values of when and are calculated in that Lorentz frame in which the Poynting vector vanishes in the given world-point. (In the exceptional case when there is no such Lorentz frame, that is, if is perpendicular to and there is no limit.) Born and Infeld2 have calculated b from the experimental values of the charge e and mass m of the electron by equating to mc2 the total energy of that centrally symmetrical electrostatic solution which has the total charge e. By this procedure b works out to be 9.18 × 1015 E.S.U.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- March 1935
- DOI:
- 10.1038/135342a0
- Bibcode:
- 1935Natur.135..342B