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Consider a massless charged particle uniformly moving in vacuum at a constant velocity with the speed of light. The usual expressions for electric and magnetic fields give weird results in this case. Take electric field as an example — it would show that the field “collapses” into a plane perpendicular to the line of motion.

Usually “infinities” indicate a problem in the theory. So I wonder if such particles can exist theoretically? If I am not mistaken, there are no empirically known examples.

Is it the result of the assumption that the particle is truly a point? Maybe there are some quantum effects to “rescue”?

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  • $\begingroup$ Does the charged particle have mass? $\endgroup$
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Nov 19, 2022 at 15:54
  • $\begingroup$ @JonCuster no, a massless charged particle $\endgroup$
    – xaxa
    Commented Nov 19, 2022 at 15:56
  • $\begingroup$ There are no known massless charged particles. $\endgroup$
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Nov 19, 2022 at 15:59
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    $\begingroup$ @JonCuster right, I mentioned it in my question. My question is can they exist theoretically? If yes then what EM they produce? $\endgroup$
    – xaxa
    Commented Nov 19, 2022 at 16:00
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    $\begingroup$ Does this answer your question? Is this proof that massless objects cannot be charged? $\endgroup$
    – John Rennie
    Commented Nov 19, 2022 at 16:52

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