Vol. 2026 No. 2 (2026)
Articles

A discussion on the electromagnetic mass of electrons

PDF
  • Taylor Freya,
  • Evans Arthur
Taylor Freya
EA Technology Ltd, Capenhurst Technology Park, Capenhurst Lane, Capenhurst, Chester, CH1 6ES, United Kingdom
Evans Arthur
EA Technology Ltd, Capenhurst Technology Park, Capenhurst Lane, Capenhurst, Chester, CH1 6ES, United Kingdom

Published 17-03-2026

Keywords

  • Electrodynamics,
  • Electron,
  • Electromagnetic Mass,
  • Special Relativity

Copyright (c) 2026 Cambridge Science Advance

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

[1]
T. Freya and E. Arthur, “A discussion on the electromagnetic mass of electrons”, Camb. Sci. Adv., vol. 2026, no. 2, pp. 1–8, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.62852/csa/2026/234.

Abstract

The issue of the electromagnetic mass of electrons remains an unresolved problem in physics. Traditionally, it has been believed that the electromagnetic mass of electrons naturally constitutes a part of their rest mass (i.e., ). In recent years, a new and opposing viewpoint has emerged, suggesting that the electromagnetic mass of electrons is not a component of their rest mass. This perspective has now garnered substantial support from both theoretical and experimental evidence. Undoubtedly, the exploration of the electromagnetic mass of electrons inevitably touches upon many aspects of physics, such as electron spin. Therefore, while explaining the new viewpoint, necessary clarifications and discussions on these related topics are also provided.  

PDF

References

  1. Gao Feng, Shu Hengqi. J.J. Thomson and the Electron[J]. Physics Bulletin, 1997(4): 34-36.
  2. Wang Yongli. The Thomson Father and Son and Physics[J]. Physics Bulletin, 2012(5): 116.
  3. J.L. Jimenez and I. Campos. Models of the Classical Electron after a Century[J]. Foundations of Physics Letters,1999,12(2): 127.
  4. F. Rohrlizh. Classical charged particles [M].3rd Ed. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte.Ltd,2007.
  5. Yu Fuchun, Zheng Chunkai. Electrodynamics[M]. Beijing: Peking University Press, 2003: 252.
  6. Guo Shuohong. Electrodynamics (Third Edition) [M]. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2008: 259.
  7. Zhang Zongsui. Electrodynamics and Special Relativity (Second Edition, Rearranged Version) [M]. Beijing: Peking University Press, 2013.
  8. Cai Shengshan, Zhu Yun, Xu Jianjun. Electrodynamics (Second Edition) [M]. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2002: 398.
  9. Liu Jueping. Electrodynamics[M]. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2004: 356.
  10. Yin Zhen. Electrodynamics (Second Edition) [M]. Beijing: Science Press, 2005: 295.
  11. Yuan Xinxi. Electromagnetic Field Energy of a Uniformly Charged Spherical Surface in Uniform Motion[J]. China Basic Science, 2012, 14(6): 37-38.
  12. E. Comay. Lorentz transformation of electromagnetic systems and the 4/3 problem[J]. Natuforschlung, 1991,46a:377.
  13. Yuan Xinxi. Electromagnetic Field Momentum of a Moving Charged Spherical Surface[J]. Physics Bulletin, 2013(11): 19-21.
  14. Timothy H. Boyer. Classical model of the electron and the definition of electromagnetic field momentum [J]. Physical Review D,1982,25(12):3246.
  15. John David Jackson. Classical Electrodynamics (Third Edition) [M]. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley &Sons, Inc,1998.
  16. H. Kolbenstvedt. Electromagnetic self-mass of the classical electron: An alternative exploitation of Fermi's claim for rigid motion[J]. Physics Letters A,1997:234-319.
  17. Iwo Bialynicki Birula. Classical model of the electron. Exactly soluble example[J]. Physical Review D,1982,28(8): 2114.
  18. Yuan Xinxi. A Note on the Calculation of Gravitational Radiation from the Binary Pulsar PSR1913+16[J]. China Basic Science, 2011, 13(6): 12-13.
  19. Yuan Xinxi. Exploratory Reflections on Gravitational Theory[J]. China Basic Science, 2012, 14(3): 22-24.
  20. Yuan Xinxi. Energy and Momentum of Electromagnetic Fields for Slowly Moving Charged Bodies[J]. Physics Bulletin, 2014(10): 24-26.
  21. Yuan Xinxi. Energy and Momentum of Electromagnetic Fields in Moving Optical Resonators[J]. Laser Journal, 2015, 36(11): 110-112.
  22. Yuan Xinxi. Energy and Momentum of Electromagnetic Fields in Moving Microwave Resonators[J]. Radar Science and Technology, 2016, 14(2): 198-201.
  23. Yuan Xinxi. Energy of Electromagnetic Fields for Moving Capacitors and Solenoids[J]. Space Electronic Technology, 2016(1): 20-23.
  24. Ji Hao. Experiments on the Measurement of Electron Lorentz Force and Energy[J]. Engineering Science, 2006, 8(10): 60-65.
  25. Yuan Xinxi. Investigating the Electromagnetic Mass of Electrons Using Compton Scattering[J]. Gansu Science and Technology Horizontal, 2015, 44(5): 39-41.
  26. Yuan Xinxi. Investigating the Electromagnetic Mass of Electrons Using the Bertozzi Experiment[J]. Experimental Science and Technology, 2016, 14(2): 4-7.
  27. Qian Bochu. Quantum Mechanics[M]. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2006: 211.
  28. Zhang Yongde. Physical Principles of Quantum Information[M]. Beijing: Science Press, 2006.
  29. Yang Fujia. Atomic Physics (Third Edition) [M]. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2000: 191.
  30. Yuan Xinxi. An Exploratory Explanation of Gravitational Redshift[J]. China Basic Science, 2013, 15(2): 11-13.