Field-free electrodynamics (1806.10082v10)

Abstract: The Maxwell-Lorentz theory of electrodynamics cannot readily be applied to a system of point charges: the electromagnetic field is not well-defined at the position of a point charge, an energy conservation argument is not obvious, an infinite regression arises when the interactions occur along the light cones and the advanced potentials lead to an apparent breakdown of causality. A rather controversial solution to these problems involves instantaneous action at a distance, which comes at the expense of violating Lorentz covariance. Some experiments call into question the applicability of the standard retardation constraint to all components of the electromagnetic field. In light of these experimental results, this paper develops two instantaneous action at a distance theories of electrodynamics, which are compatible with some basic features of classical electrodynamics: the Lorentz transformed Coulomb's law, the Biot-Savart force law and Faraday's law of induction.