Note on the Time Reversal Asymmetry of Equations of Motion

H. D. Zeh

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Note on the Time Reversal Asymmetry of Equations of Motion

H. D. Zeh

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Abstract

Rohrlich's recent claim that the equation of motion for a point charge be symmetric under time reversal is shown to be the result of an unusual definition. The equation of motion for a charged sphere of finite size, which in contrast is claimed to be asymmetric because of the finite propagation time of its (retarded) self-forces, is shown to possess the same asymmetry (or the same symmetry, depending on the definition) as that for a point charge. Similar arguments apply to other effective equations of motion (such as those describing friction or decoherence).

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H. D. Zeh. 1999-12-26. Note on the Time Reversal Asymmetry of Equations of Motion. https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/9903046

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