Interaction Of Electric And Magnetic Charges

Abstract

It is shown classically that in a head-on collision between an electric and a magnetic charge a repulsive polarization force of the form r-5 results (where r is the distance between the charges), if one (both) charge(s) is (are) assigned a finite spherical size. This force leads to a minimum distance of approach and prevents one particle from going through the other, and thus guards against the violation of the conservation of angular momentum. This polarization force is a manifestation of the diamagnetism (diaelectricity) of extended electric (magnetic) charges. © 1977 The American Physical Society