Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Charged Particles in an Electromagnetic Field: Causal and Stable Dynamics from 1/c Expansion of QED

We derive from a microscopic Hamiltonian a set of stochastic equations of motion for a system of spinless charged particles in an electromagnetic (EM) field based on a consistent application of a dimensionful 1/c expansion of quantum electrodynamics (QED). All relativistic corrections up to order 1/c^3 are captured by the dynamics, which includes electrostatic interactions (Coulomb), magnetostatic backreaction (Biot-Savart), dissipative backreaction (Abraham-Lorentz) and quantum field fluctuations at zero and finite temperatures. With self-consistent backreaction of the EM field included we show that this approach yields causal and runaway-free equations of motion, provides new insights into charged particle backreaction, and naturally leads to equations consistent with the (classical) Darwin Hamiltonian and has quantum operator ordering consistent with the Breit Hamiltonian. To order 1/c^3 the approach leads to a nonstandard mass renormalization which is associated with magnetostatic self-interactions, and no cutoff is required to prevent runaways. Our new results also show that the pathologies of the standard Abraham-Lorentz equations can be seen as a consequence of applying an inconsistent (i.e. incomplete, mixed-order) expansion in 1/c, if, from the start, the analysis is viewed as generating a low-energy effective theory rather than an exact solution. Finally, we show that the 1/c expansion within a Hamiltonian framework yields well-behaved noise and dissipation, in addition to the multiple-particle interactions.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure

Shallow grooves in journal improve air bearing performance

Bearing designs, which shape the surface to create artificial fluid-film wedges in the absence of any applied radial load, generate radial restoring forces to keep journals from whirling. Helical- or herringbone-grooved journals or rotors show most promise of stable operation, with no sacrifice in load capacity

Use of computer-aided analysis techniques for cover type mapping in areas of mountainous terrain

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Experimental dynamic stiffness and damping of externally pressurized gas-lubricated journal bearings

A rigid vertical shaft was operated with known amounts of unbalance at speeds to 30,000 rpm and gas supply pressure ratios to 4.8. From measured amplitude and phase angle data, dynamic stiffness and damping coefficients of the bearings were determined. The measured stiffness was proportional to the supply pressure, while damping was little affected by supply pressure. Damping dropped rapidly as the fractional frequency whirl threshold was approached. A small-eccentricity analysis overpredicted the stiffness by 20 to 70 percent. Predicted damping was lower than measured at low speeds but higher at high speeds

Experiments on rotating externally pressurized air journal bearings. Part 2 - Attitude angle and air flow

Air flow and attitude angle compared with theory for rotating externally pressurized air journal bearing

Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), General Electric Phase 1. Volume 2: Advanced energy conversion systems. Part 3: Direct energy conversion cycles

For abstract, see N76-23680

Series-hybrid bearing - An approach to extending bearing fatigue life at high speeds

Fluid film bearing of hybrid device consists of orifice compensated annular thrust bearing and self-acting journal bearing. In series hybrid bearing, both ball bearing and annular thrust bearing carry full system thrust load, but two bearings share speed. Operation of system is stable and automatically fail-safe