Bambusi D.
A proof of the Lorentz--Dirac equation for charged point particles 
(56K, TeX)

ABSTRACT.  A rigorous deduction of the nonrelativistic Lorentz--Dirac equation from
the Maxwell--Lorentz system in the dipole approximation is given.
Previously the validity of the equation had been checked, using the
explicit solution of the complete system in terms of normal modes, only
for very special initial data for the complete system; here instead the
proof, valid for all initial data, is given by making rigorous the
standard heuristic deduction, and this is obtained by overcoming a
serious problem there involved. Finally a formula is given, which
enables one to calculate, from the initial field, the initial
acceleration to be used as an initial datum for the Lorentz--Dirac
equation.