CLASSICAL THEORY OF SPINNING PARTICLES

B H. J. Bx ABHA, PH. D .

Received March 21, 19-10

(Communicated by Sir C. V. Raman, at., F.R.S., N.L.)

IT is well known that the heavy particles, namely the proton and neutron,
have an interaction with the meson field characterised by the " charge " g l
and an explicit spin moment g 2 . The latter is known to lead to a scattering of
neutral mesons which increases as the square of their energy, and it has
often been thought that in consequence this term would lead to the type of
explosions investigated by Heisenberg. It is clear, however, that in quantum
theory, the reaction of the emitted or scattered radiation has not been taken
into account, the effect of which would be to diminish the scattering. This
radiation damping cannot at the moment be included properly in a quantum
theory, but one can approach the problem if one can build up a complete
classical theory including radiation damping. The point at which radiation
damping begins to become important in the classical theory may then be
taken to indicate the point at which one might expect the quantum theory
to fail due to its neglect of this factor. Indeed, the well-known limitation
of the correctness of the quantum theory of the electron upto energies of
roughly 137 m (the velocity of light is put equal to unity in this paper)
is based on a comparison with the classical theory of the electron by
Lorentz, in which radiation damping became important at these energies.
An attempt at a non-relativistic treatment of damping has already been
made by Heisenberg (1939) for a dipole of finite extension by a method which
is analogous to that of Lorentz. His results do not agree with those of this
paper even in the limit of a point dipole and we believe that this discrepancy
is due to the method being inherently unsound. It consists in taking retarda-
tion into account for the field produced at one point of the dipole by a portion
of the dipole at another point, while the different parts of the dipole are
assumed to move together simultaneously. In the case where the field is
the Maxwell field which propagates itself with light velocity, this procedure
is inherently absurd, for it assumes that different parts of the dipole know
what the other parts are doing in a time far less than that required for light
to travel from one point to the other.
In this paper therefore we shall deal with a point dipole with no extension,
and it will be shown that completely consistent relativistic equations free
247
Al F
248 H. J. Bhabha
from singularities can be found for this case. For simplicity we shall make
the assumption that the dipole has only a moment g 2i but no charge, i.e., we
shall put g l = 0. The dipole will be characterised by an antisymmetric
six-vector S µy , and its velocity will be denoted by v,,. In this paper we shall
restrict ourselves to the case where the equations are so chosen that S = 0.
The dipole then always remains a pure magnetic dipole in the rest system.
The general case where g 2 * 0 and S is variable will be dealt with in
another paper with Corben. Equations for the case where S = 0 can be
derived at once from the general treatment by a procedure which is given
there, but the general theory is so much more complicated that there is point
in giving the derivation of these equations by a direct method.
We shall further restrict ourselves to a Maxwell field. It has been shown
in an earlier paper (Bhabha, 1939 a) that the finite rest mass of the meson
introduces no essential difference from electromagnetic theory for high ener-
gies, so that the results of this paper will also give a good indication of the
behaviour of neutrons in a meson field. The exact treatment of the meson
field will be carried out in the paper with Corben.
General Theory
We shall follow a method first used by Dirac (1938) in his classical theory
of electrons. Take the world-line of the dipole as given, and also the direction
of its spin at every point of it. The co-ordinates of the dipole denoted by
z,. (-r) are functions of the proper time T measured along the world-line from
some arbitrary point on it.
All calculations in this paper will be done assuming that for all time
Shy vy = 0. (1)
The equations derived by differentiating (1) are
Sµ ' + S µy vv = 0
SK," +
2S µ11 vv + Sp,, 7111 = 0 (2)
S / " +
3 S, 7J9 + 3S /, y vv + S =0
S / ,iii + 4SN,,,
71v + 6 7Jy + 4S -- SN, y vv = 0,
where we have written for brevity
S/hri _ Sv^v vy Sµviri _ S S/hiiir _ S (3)
Sµ - SEr,v vv,
' , vv
We shall then have to show that the equations of motion are such as to
preserve the equation (1) if it is valid initially.
Assume the Maxwell equations to be strictly valid in the whole of space
except on the world-line. The retarded field due to the dipole at any point x4
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 249
is then determined by the Maxwell equations and is given by
ret ret ret
4
^µv 6xIA^v — ^ v ^p

where the retarded potentials are given by

ret
( 5)
(S PV )
Here
sj" = x µ — z µ (i 0 ) (5 a)
K = S If vµ.

sA, is the distance from the actual point to the retarded point determined by
Sp, s'L = {xµ — z,, (T0)} {xp' — z/4 (T0)}
0• _ (6)
In performing the differentiations in (4) and (5) account has to be taken of
the corresponding change of the retarded point. The method has been
given in the previous paper (Bhabha, 1939 a).
The actual field F, at any point is equal to the retarded field due to the
dipole plus the ingoing field.
ret in
Fµv = Fµv + F µv' " (7)
The energy momentum density tensor T,,, of the field is
T /AV ` F FP + 4 gµv I I p° ' (8)
The metric tensor ^ is taken to have the form goo = 1 , g 11 —g.22 =
933=— 1 , with the other component vanishing.
We now introduce as in a previous paper (Bhabha, 1939 b) a tensor to
represent the angular momentum density of the field, defined by
9 ( )

which satisfies the equation of conservation

dM "
d V X ' = 0.

Now take a world-tube surrounding the world-line of radius e, defined

as before by
K=s = e. (10)
If dSv be an element of surface of this tube taken as positive when the normal
is directed outwards, then the flow of energy and momentum into the tube is
given by
ALP dS°. (11)
An integration over the surface of the tube can always be considered as an
integral over a two-dimensional spherical surface with the retarded point as
centre, and then an integral along the world line with respect to the retarded
Ala
 250 H. J. Bhabha
point. Thus (11) can always be written in the form

fT dSU = f TZ T, dT. (12)

T1

For the conservation of energy and momentum, this must only depend on
the conditions at the ends of the tube, so that the integrand must be a
perfect differential. Therefore we must have
T= A. (13)
A dot above a letter represents differentiation with respect to the proper
time r. For conservation of energy and momentum, the dipole must so
translate that (13) is satisfied; in other words, (13) determines the trans-
lational motion of the dipole.
The flow of angular momentum into the tube is given by
f M xlzy dS°. (14)
Using (9) and the definition of s, it can be written

f(sx Tµ. , — sµ Tx, ) dS'" + f(z^, T

, v —z dS°.
In view of what has been said above about the integration over the surface
of the tube, the first integral can always be written in the form
fT
J 2 Mx,dT
T1
while the second becomes
fT
T1
Using (13) we find

f M, = f T 2 dT (M 1,+ z ?, A —
T1

= f T 2 dT {M — (Vx Aµ — 7Jµ Ax) + (z a A^,, — zµ A x ) I .

1

For the conservation of angular momentum, this must only depend on the
conditions at the two ends of the tube, so that the integral must be a perfect
differential. Put it equal to B ay + dT (z A^ — z,,, AA ). This leads to
M y, µ — (v x A, — vµ A X) = B. (15)
Thus, for conservation of angular momentum, the dipole must so rotate that
(15) is satisfied. In other words this equation determines the rotation of the
dipole. To give the equations for the translation and rotation of the dipole
explicitly we must determine A. and By,µ.
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 251
It is convenient from now on to adopt the following notation. The
invariant formed from two tensors A B will be denoted by (A B)
(AB) = A Bµ°
A 2 = (AA) = Apv AAP.
The invariant formed from any combination of tensors and vectors will be
written in the usual matrix notation. Thus, for example
(V S S Sv) 7Jµ S AU S QP S P ° v y

S'z = (S S') = S'

A W
S'.
Now the equations of motion must be such that the absolute magnitude
of the dipole does not change. In other words
S/u ,, S"' = constant. (16)
The equations which follow from this by differentiation are
(SS) = 0
(SS) + —0 (16a)
(SS) +3(SS) =0.
(16) demands that the rotational equation (15) must be of the form
I S Xw = S aP CP A, — S AP CP S,. (17)
Here I is an arbitrary constant and an antisymmetric tensor. In fact
(17) is the most general form which corresponds to an infinitesimal rotation
of axes, or conversely, to an infinitesimal rotation of the dipole. (By rotation
is meant here a spatial rotation as well as a Lorentz transformation.) In order
that (17) should not be inconsistent with the equations (2), we must have
remembering (1)
I S' N, v = ST P CPA Vµ. (I8)
This can be satisfied identically remembering (34) if we put
CPµ = - I (VP vW - vµ VP) + C P"
' (19)
where CPL satisfies
C'PA VA =. 0. (20)
Thus, if (1) is to be preserved, the rotational equation (15) must have the
general form
IS =- I (SA P YIP v, - Sp vP VX) + SX P C'PA - S AP C PX '

I (v, S w ' — v . S A O) + S XP C'P^ — S AP C'P a , (21)

with C Pl .' satisfying (20).
S not the most general type of six-vector, since it satisfies the equation
(1). It is easy to show that for such an antisymmetric tensor, a system of
 252 H. J. Bhablia
co-ordinates can always be chosen in which it takes the special form S12 =
— S 21 0, with all the other components vanishing. In this co-ordinate
system, by (17), S12 = S21 = S34 = S43 = 0. Then it can be verified easily
that in this special co-ordinate system
S S, = — I Sµ (S ) , '

S AP SP ° S Q „ = 0 (22)
D'-' S AP S P A S,^ 4 (D IIµ S,) (S 2 )
Here D ?, N, is an arbitrary antisymmetric tensor. But these equations which
can be verified in this particular frame of reference are already in tensor form,
and hence are true in any co-ordinate system.
We now turn to T. Due to the quadratic form (8) of T and the split-
ting of Bµ „ into two parts by (7), it can be written as the sum of two parts
if we neglect terms that vanish when E —> 0.
ret mix
Tµ =T,,,+T µ .
ret
T^ consists of the terms which are multiplied by g 22 and does not contain
mix
the ingoing field while T contains the ingoing field and is proportional
to g 2 . Corresponding to this we may write AA, in three parts.
ret mix mech
Aµ =Al,,+A µ +A µ .
The first is proportional to g 2 2 , the second to g 2 and contains the ingoing
mech
field, while A w corresponds to the mechanical part of the energy and
does not contain g 2 .
Introducing
self ret , ret
T g -T —A /L , (23)
(13) then becomes
self mix , mix . mech
T µ + Tµ — A A = A µ . (24)
Similarly Mx / consists of two parts
ret mix
M7, A = 1,A A + M

we may correspondingly write B AA, as the sum of two parts

ret mech
B x/L = B aµ + B.
mix
It will be seen below that B x/ does not exist for dimensional reasons.
Writing, corresponding to (23)
self ret ret ret , ret
M aµ = Mai, — (v x AA -- v M AA ) — B A/, (25)
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles , 253
(15) can be written
self mix mix mix
Ma µ + [Maµ — (VX A, — v,a AA )]
mech mech mech
= B AM + VX A µ — v, A A • (26)
The retarded, mixed and mechanical terms in (26) contain different
combinations of the fundamental constants, the first containing g 2 2 , the
second g 2i and the third being independent of g 2 . Hence each of the first
two groups of terms by itself must be of the form of the last two terms on
the right-hand side of (21).
The Equations of Motion
To proceed further it is necessary to know the exact expressions for
T µ and M AN,. These have been calculated in another paper by Bhabha and
Corben. It is shown there that
mix in d in in l
- (F) Vv + 3 v. I" p° S P° t ] (27)
Tµ = g2 [ 2 c61µ sp° + d7 { 3 Sµ° r°v
and ))
mix in in in in

Maµ = a°2[511° F Sµ ° Fax + 3 va Sµ° I' °Y vv — 2 vµ S7^c F °V vv]. ( 28 )

Now put .
mix in in
A p, =g2( Sp, I'°v — * vµ, F p° Sp°)
mech
A p, = Mv p, + I S µ (29)
mech
BA,. = I Sx µ ,
where M and I are arbitrary constants, the first having the dimension of
a mass, and the second those of angular momentum.
The equation (24) then becomes
self
1in in in
Sp,° F°v vv — 2 g 2 v,. F,. Spa +I S p,' } (30)
Tf` 2 c^xp (F p°) SP° = Mv,1 + - { —g 2

while (26) becomes

1
selfin in in in /
Mlµ +g2 Sx ° Faµ — Sµ, ° Fax + V X S µ° V v^v — v SA ° F v v ( 31)

—I (vX S µ — vµ S^ ' ) = I SA µ .
'

self
Except for the term Mx,., which we have to investigate, (31) is just of the
ret ret
required form (21). We see now that A p, and BAµ have to be so chosen
self
that M aµ is of the form
self

MAM ° g2 ( S N0. D°N, — S,^Q D° a) (32)

 254 H. J. Bhabha
with
DaA vµ = 0.
Contracting (30) with v,,,, and remembering that

(F pto- si =F PS SP°

we get
vµ T
self + 2 g2 (F sp a ) + g2 vµ S pa B°° v v = I (vfF s • (33)

Use has been made of some of the relations

(vv) = 0

(vv) + v 2 = 0

(vv) + 3 (vv) = 0 (34)

(vv)-} 4(vv)+3v==0.

Contract (31) with — (S'PS p µ — SµpS p ^`). Using the relations (22) and
remembering (1), (2) and (32) it follows quite easily that
1 2 922 (D ' , v\l 2 g2 (F inpv S pQ ) + -2 92 (vX F... v v — va F'avvv) AQ

— 2 1 (vx -- vXvy) Svc] S 2 = 0.

Dividing by S 2 , this is just /

g 22 (DS) + 4g 2 (B'° S) + g2 (v S F 1 v) = — I (v S v). (35)

The terms on the right-hand sides of (33) or (35) vanish for

Hence in order that (33) and (35) should be consistent, we must have
self
vµ T, = 4g 2 (DS). (36)
mix
We now see that the choice of A v, was unique. The first term in it
was chosen so as to change (28) into the form of the last two terms on the
mix
right-hand side of (21), while the second term in A. had then to be such
as to make (33) and (35) consistent for the term containing g 2 .
mech mech
The choice of A,,, and B aN, is not unique. There are other possi-
bilities which will be discussed in the paper of Bhabha and Corben. The
choice (28) is equivalent to treating the spin as a pure gyroscope with no
mechanical moment of inertia perpendicular to the axis of the spin. M plays
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 255
the part of the mechanical mass. Both M and I may be given any values
we please, and there is no connection between them.
The equations (30) and (31) neglecting the damping terms have already
been derived by Frenkel (1926) by another method.

The Reaction of Radiation

ret ret
It is only left to determine AA, and B. These have to be so chosen
self
that M ai, should have the form (32)
ret ret ret ret ll
{M S , µ — (v x Aµ — v µ A x ) — g2 2 (S xp DP — S µp DP A ) (32 a)

D pµ vµ = 0,
and
ret .ret 1
V ^T µ — A A ) 2- (Dx A J (36)

It will appear presently that these two conditions are so stringent as practi-
ret ret
cally to determine A. and B AA uniquely.
As is well known, the retarded field of a dipole has a singularity of the
ret ret
order e. Hence both T µ and MA, will have singular terms which tend to
infinity as e --)- 0. We therefore write
ret (e) (0)
Tµ, = g2 2 (Tµ + Tµ ) (37)
(E)
where T all the terms which are singular.
Similarly we write
ret (e) (0)
Mx µ = g 22 (MxA + M (38
38 ))
(E) ret
where M aµ contains all the singular terms in M.
In the paper of Bhabha and Corben* it is shown that
(E)
E2s v µ S2 — 1 5 Sµo s)
Tµ d'r rE s v µ S2) +

E ^v µ ^ 5 v2 S2 —' 3r S2
15 „/2 J 15 Sp? ^' aY v Y + 5 ^^p,0 ^'/^ 1 J (39)

* These singular terms have been calculated by Dr. H. C. Corben,

 256 H. J. Bhabha
and
(E) ( C c (J
M yµ — [ E2 1 — 5 ^^ ^µ S2 — 1 6 v^ ^kQ ,/O L E l V., S, ^OY UL

(40)
*v ^µ^ S+ { 25 vA S ` s Y 5 Va S
J
The minus sign at the end of a bracket means that similar terms with A and
µ intercharged have to be subtracted.
ret (E)
Corresponding to (37) we split Aµ into two parts, of which A A contains
the singular terms
ret (E) (0)
A µ = g2 2 (A M, + Aµ ) • (41)
(e)
A µ is chosen so that
T(, _ A(E)= 0.
µ µ (42)
The fact that (39) is a perfect differential makes this possible. Thus by (23)
self (0) . (0)

T µ = g2 2 (T µ — A µ ), (43)
and is now entirely free from singularities. It remains finite when E —). 0.
ret
(40) shows that all the singular terms in M aµ are not perfect differ-
entials. However, the terms in square brackets in (40) which are not
perfect differentials are just sufficient to compensate the singular terms
(e) (E)

— ( V A AA — A1)
in (32 a). Thus we may write
Tet (e) (0)
B Aµ = g2 2 (B A ,., + BA,.) (44)
(0) (e)
where B kµ has no singular term and B Aµ is just equal to the term in curly
brackets in (40) which is a perfect differential. It then follows that
self (0) (0) (0) . (0)

M1µ = g2 2 {Maµ — (VA Aµ —. vµ AA) — BAAJ (45)

is entirely free from singularity, and remains finite when E -- 0.
We have thus shown that it is uniquely possible to subtract the infinities
which occur in the ordinary flow of energy, momentum and angular
momentum out of a tube for a point dipole. That this is possible depends
on these terms or certain combinations of them being perfect differentials.
I believe that this very fact shows that the energy momentum tensor of the
field (8) has not the correct form when point charges and dipoles are present.
Indeed, the derivation of expression (8) to represent the energy density of
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 257
the field can only be done properly when no singularities are 'present. This
line of argument is also that of Pryce (1938), who has shown that at least
for a point charge, the expression (8) can be modified so as to give the total
electromagnetic energy of a uniformly moving point charge to be zero.
(0 ) (0)
It now only remains to determine A µ and B. This is done in the
appendix. It is there shown that the conditions (32 a) and (36) suffice to
determine these quantities completely, except for one dimensionless constant
which we call d. The result of the appendix is that
self
M A ,.. = g2 3 {SA c D" s — S µy D"a}
with
D vµ = d (S r V ;5 — Su v v) }' ( d — ) (Sv r µ — Sa µ r )
'

+ 2 (d + 3) ( S vµ — S 22 (Sr" v, — Sµ" v)
5
vY ) (46)

3 S ,,, ± ( 11 — 3) v, — S µ ' vY) v

2 2
(` ] Y /

Using (2) it can be easily verified that

= 0.
The rotational equation (31), which is now completely determined may be
written in a slightly different form
in
I S i + I (va Sµ — v1, Sa) — [S^Q {g 2 D,,u + g2 I
in in

— g2 (Fry v c vµ —F vv v1,) } (47)

This clearly shows that it is of the required form (21). Moreover, on con-
tracting it with v,.5 we see that it vanishes identically if (1) holds. That is,
in the rest system in which v o = 1, v 1 = v 2 ° v 3 = 0, the equation vanishes
identically when either of the suffices A or µ is zero. Thus in the rest system,
the equation (47) only determines Sk j, while Sk o is then directly determined
by the first of equations (2).* We thus see that equations can be given
consistent with the condition (1), in which there is nevertheless no connec-
tion between the constants g 1 , g 2i M and I. This is in disagreement with
a previous paper of Kramers (1934).
There is only one arbitrary dimensionless constant d in (46). The con-
servation laws do not suffice to determine this. In view of the fact that
col
there are 15 possible independent terms in A N, and 6 possible independent
col
terms in B Au , it is remarkable that the coefficients of all these can be
determined in terms of one arbitrary constant.

* Latin sufoes only run from 1 to 3, Greek suffices from 0 to 3.

258 H. J. Bhabha
self
T µ is given explicitly in the appendix, and due to relativistic factors
in the coupling of the spin and translational motions is rather a cumbersome
expression. It also contains the one arbitrary constant d only. This com-
pletely determines the translational equation (30). It should be noticed
self
that T µ contains v A explicitly while the equation (47) contains S N,,, expli-
citly. The conditions necessary to make the solution of the equations
perfectly definite have therefore to be investigated.

If v µ vanishes, then (47) takes a particularly simple form. We may

now choose the system of co-ordinates to be the rest system in which v o = 1,
v 1 = v 2 = v 3 = 0. Then (47) takes the form

I Skl = g2 ( skm I i ` si' F) — 3 g22 ( Sk- Sml — Sl m ' m k). (48)

This together with (16 a) shows that in the absence of the ingoing field, if

5k1 vanishes, then S,j also vanishes. Thus in order that Skl should continue
to be zero in the absence of an external field, we must have initially

vµ = 0 , S, = 0, Ski = 0.
It is shown in the appendix, that if further v µ vanish, then the trans-
lational equation (30) requires that V. should vanish. vµ is still undetermined.
Thus, in order that in the absence of an external field the dipole should
continue in a state of uniform motion, it is necessary that initially vµ , -µ
and v should all vanish. And the same condition for the rotational equa-
tions requires that S, and S N ,, should vanish. Thus the solution of the
equations of motion (30) and (47) is completely determined in any given
external field if initially the velocity and direction of the spin are given,

and finally, when the external field was died down, z, v,,, v, S N„ and S µ „ are
made to vanish.
Lastly we give the equation (33) explicitly.
1 p2 (.r n C^ — g2 ( s' rl v) p22 { 3 ( c+) _ (s' s") + 3 S2 v2

+td— 2 —2 (d -^-- 3) (^ 7 s v
3 (S" S
! + ( d --1 s'2 v J
\ +d(S'Sv)}=0. (49)

The damping term in equation (48) can be derived directly from quite
elementary considerations. It must clearly be proportional to g 22 , and
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 259

hence it must be quadratic in Sk i. It must further be of the form of the

last term on the right of equation (21). It then follows from dimensional
reasons that it must involve Skl. Hence it must be of the form
a g2 2 (S km Sm l — Sim Sick)
where a is a numerical constant. Consistency then requires that this con-
stant a must have the value — 3. This will be proved in the next section
by considering the scattering of light by the dipole. The energy radiated
by the dipole must be equal to the work done by the incident light on the
dipole and from this it follows that a = — 3. It is obvious that the general
equation (47) cannot be derived from such elementary considerations.

The Scattering of Light by a Dipole

If we only wish to consider the effect of rotation of the dipole in scattering

light, we may simplify the problem by putting M = oa, since this is an inde-
pendent constant. Then the M V term dominates all the others in equation
v
(30) and it follows, as is otherwise obvious, that M is zero. In this case,
,

we have then to solve the simple equation (48).

Introducing a space vector M defined by
Mk = Sim, MZ = Smk, M m = Ski, (50)
the equation (48) may be written in vector form

IM =g2 [M.H] — g22 [M.M]. (51)

Consider a light wave of frequency w/27r moving along the z-axis.
H = H o cos w (z — t). (52)
Let its magnetic vector H be along the x-axis of magnitude H. Let the dipole
be at the origin of co-ordinates. The average intensity of this light wave is
H 02 /8a. We will only consider the case where the oscillation of the dipole
is not too large.
Write
M = M o ± M 1 sin wt (53)
(Mo M 1 ) = 0.
M o is the initial direction of the dipole. We will neglect terms quadratic
in M 1 . Introducing (52) and (53) into (51), and writing for brevity
31a _ / _ 3 Ho
(53)
52 92
we get
3
a w M i = 3 [Ma' Ho] -f w 3 [Mo M1]. .
260 H. J. Bhabha
Denote by 0 the angle between H o and M o and by the angle between M 1 and
[M O . H O] where 0 is measured in such a way that the plane through M. and
M 1 makes an angle 0 ± 2 with the M t, H o plane.
Then
M11 = w ^ a2 n CU4(55 a)
and
tan = a$. (55 b)

The average work done per unit time by this field on the dipole, which equals
the total energy radiated, is
f, gHo si ne B sin
g2 (F^) = ,g2 (HM) = g2w (M1H0) cos Wt =_ -- - - (55c)

Dividing this by H 02 18,r and using (55 b) we get the scattering cross-section
w2 Sin2 0
67r 9 I
2 4 (56)
4 V 24+
To find the intensity scattered in different directions, we must calculate
the retarded field due to the oscillating dipole. It can easily be shown by
(4) and (5) that at large distances the electric field E' and the magnetic field
H' at a point r are
r•M Lr
y2 ^ret H' — 92 L r M I ret . )

_ - ba [ ^y3 ] J ( 57 )

Denoting by a the angle between the direction r and the direction M 1

in which the dipole oscillates, the average intensity in the direction r is

92
2 )I4 2 Sln2 O _ 2w4
a2
M1 2 sin g
(57 a)
4Tr 72 8a y

Thus the cross-section for scattering in a solid dQ in the direction r is just

got by dividing this by H 02 /8ir and is
9 W 2 sin2 0 sing
4 ® d'S2.
4 9I^ + (58)
(4g2 ° )

The distribution of the scattered radiation thus bears a very simple

relation to the direction of the oscillating dipole. For small w (55 b) shows
that 0, and hence the dipole oscillates perpendicularly to the M o ff plane.
For W 2 a however, 0 — 2 and the dipole oscillates in the M OH plane.
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 261
Correspondingly, the whole intensity distribution of the scattered radiation
is turned through a right angle.
Suppose now that the coefficient 3 in the last term of (51) had been
replaced by a. Then the only change in the above calculation is to replace
a, P by a' and P' where

a = I , fl' H
ag2 2age
The work done on the average by the incident light on the dipole per
unit time according to (55 c) is
g 2 fi' H„ sin2 0 sin Ho w 2 sin 2 B
--- 2 \/ i ,I - - — 2a (a 2 ± W4 )

On the other hand the total energy radiated by the dipole is given by (57 a)
integrated over all directions of emission.

4 N 2 sin 2 0 H02 W2 sin 2 0

T1 g22 a' 4 M 1 2 =_ 31 92 2 w w (a2 +w) = 3 (a2 w i)

These two are equal only if a =.

The formula (56) reduces to the usual formula
8
Iz cot sine 0 (59)

when w 2 < a, which can be deduced neglecting radiation damping. This

is also what the quantum theory gives in the non-relativistic region. We see
now quite clearly that the increase of this cross-section quadratically with the
frequency for all frequencies is entirely due to the neglect of radiation damping,
for the exact classical formula (56) becomes for cue . a
67r sin 2 0
W2

and thus decreases inversely as the square of the frequency just like the
scattering by a point charge. (56) thus shows that radiation damping will
be important when
A w A 3I(.
2(60)
^2g2
This formula may be applied to get a rough estimate of the point at
which the quantum theory of the interaction of neutral mesons with neu-
trons (or protons) may be expected to fail due to its neglect of the effects
of radiation damping. In applying (56) which has been calculated for light
to mesons, it should be remembered, that, as has been shown in an earlier
262 H. J. Bhabha
paper (Bhabha, 1939 a), the only effect of the finite mass of the meson is
to diminish the cross-section (56) for small It w — µ while for /t w > µ no
appreciable difference is introduced. Thus, putting the empirical values
I =h/2, g 2 =g2'Jtfµ, g2'2 //t— 1/15 (60) becomes

h u, µ 3µ. (61)
V 4 9 2 ' 1'
Thus the quantum theory does in fact fail where one expected it to fail, but
this limit has really nothing to do with the mass of the meson, and is only
determined by the empirical magnitude of the constant g 2 . The limit (61)
results in a very unusual state of affairs. We should not expect quantum
effects to come in till the momentum of the mesons becomes comparable
with the rest mass of the neutron, i.e., till It w ' M. The classical formula (56)
will therefore be valid upto this limit. Thus there is a region of frequencies
3 /t w M where the classical formula (56) is still right, but the quantum
formula (59) quite wrong.

It is well known that the electron has no explicit g 2 interaction with the
radiation field. If, however, the above theory be applied to its spin to find
the limitations of the quantum theory due to the neglect of radiation
damping, we find, putting I = Ii/2, g 2, = elt!2m

It w^ ./3 e In in. (62)

'V
According to this argument the quantum theory of the electron would be
expected to fail at energies far below the usually given limit 137 m.
The same argument may be used to find the limit of the correctness
of the quantum theory of the meson due to its neglect of the radiation re-
action of the electromagnetic field. Putting I = Ai, g 2, = eh/21h, we get

^w ^ ,^ / 6e µ ^ U6 x 137 µ•

I wish to express my thanks to Dr. H. C. Corben for his collaboration.

To him is due the lengthy calculation of the singular terms in the flow of
energy and momentum out of the tube. The full treatment of the general
case will be published with him elsewhere. These calculations were begun
in Cambridge and completed at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
It is a pleasure to express my gratitude to Professor Sir C. V. Raman and the
Director Dr. J. C. Ghosh for having afforded me every facility for carrying
on this work at the Institute.
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 263
Appendix
It is shown in the paper of Bhabha and Corben* that
(0)
TA =vA {—IS 2 -I- S" 2 + (S „ Sv)+2(S'Sv)-3 (vSSv)-I-15 S2v2

+ S 2 v 2 — 4S '2 V 2 — -9 S 2 v 4 } + i {2 (S ' S " ) + 2 (S ' S v)}

— i5S 21)
1 2 — 3g
2 4 v B
S2
} VM( Y S S µv *^Pv p S ^^v 2s v
5µv SPv
P

is Sµv ^vP 71 P — *S S'v v 2 + 3 Sµv 5" v2 + S µ ,, S 'v (V v) (63)

_r vµ (S ' `J 7/) + VA (^- 5 S 27 S '2 T' $6 S2 v2)

5 AS AP SPr v o- '_ -f o Sµ0- S pa v2}

(0)
1VI = V SµvS"' 2 S
— 15 p + r2S'°
µv SP v 5 µv — 12 5
- µv
S Syp v p ^ —
{ —4 s 1 S,
µvSvPv P
_ ®b v p S^a Y2 '
2 +
'J
7) µ S'71)2 32
35SAVS
'V
71 2 }
—7 V(.(S

+ Vx { — S µv S P — 2 S µv S' v — S µv S vP v p —i5 vµ So} (64)

2S µ + 2
T `8 pP SPX + 2 SX" S S' Sµv 71v — S V2],

The terms which are perfect differentials in (63) can be eliminated at once
(0)
by introducing corresponding terms in A. The only effect of this is
therefore to change the coefficients of the corresponding five terms in (64)
(0) (0)
due to the presence of — (v ? A v µ A x ). In the subsequent work we will
consider this to have been done.
(0)
Now A X must be proportional to g 22 , and hence it must be quadratic in
Sµ ,,. Further, from dimensional reasons, each term must have three dots over
(0)
it, since each term of T µ has four dots over it. Hence remembering (1) the
(0)
most general substitution for A A is
(0)
(S' S”) + C 3 9J µ (S ' S v) + C4 7l µ S 2 (v v)
A µ, C1 v µ (S .S) + C 2 v µ

C5 vµ S2 Cs vµ S 2 .' C ? v µ S2 v2 +c8 vµ S2 Cy ^ µv S v

C10 S. µv S "v + C11 S v p + C12 SV S.,iv + C13 Sµv S vP vP (6)

C14 SµY S v P v p + C15 Sµv S'v V2

(0) (0)
The expressions for T Mx p, were calculated independently by each of
us as a check.
261 H. J. Bhabha
The c's are arbitrary numerical coefficients. Any other terms of the required
type can at once be absorbed into the above expression by the use of the
relations (2) and (16 a). Similarly, it can be seen that the most general
(0)
expression for B x ^,, is
BAµ
()
_ [d1 vA S,,, + d2 vA SAP S „ v + d3 Z,,k SAv S , y
+ d 4 vA S
+ d 5 vA v A S 2 + ds Sap vP S Pµ _ (66)
Using (64), (65) and (66), we now form the expression
self (0) (0) (0) .(0)

M1µ = 9i22 ^l^'1,^ m — (vA A A — vA A\

J — BA A
)

The various terms which occur in this expression are given in the accom-
panying table with their respective coefficients. The coefficients are so
(0)

Table of terms in {M x ,, — (v x AA ( 0 ) — v 1 A,( 0 )) — B AS,,(° ) }

vX Se ,, S' d1 °—1
V X S AY S'° —d1 —d 3 —5 =0
7Jn S — d1 — d2 —Y5 '— d + 3
V\ s vP — d1 — d4 —5 = — 2d1 — 2
v^sµvS„ —c10 -- d d3 — =0
S” ' 5

;,X ^ e S2 —d5 —6 =0
V\ S A5 S" — C1 2— d2 =— c12 +

S,-,v 'P v P —C 13— d2 — d4 — 15; =_ -- C1 3 — d1 + 5

vX S µ „ S'° — c 9d3 + r5 =0
v\ y 8 v P vP — C11 — d3 — 6t4 — 15 = 0

vX S vP — C14 — d4 + 35 -- C 14 — dl — 15
v x vµ S2 —05 -- g =_= O

V S'2 —C° +2 =0
v \ V N, S 2 - 2 — Cq +5 `_ O
— C15 + 3 = C1 5 + 3
V\ S,u , S IP v2

v\ vµ S2 —c8 —d5 =O

SxP SP —d6 + 2 =0

S ?, P SP A —d 6 =—2
S\ "S' u 3 =—d 2 — 15

S' S µ „ v" I _ — d1 + d 4 + 5
S^, P SP µ v2 —2 -- — 3
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 265
spaced in the table as to show the respective contributions of the different
parts. The first column gives the contribution to the coefficients due to
(0) ro^ rol
— (v a A v1 AX ), the second column that due to B x ,, and the last column
(0)
that due to M x given by (64) with the changes mentioned above. Some of
self
these terms cannot possibly occur in M xµ , since it has to be of the form (32).
The coefficients of all these terms must therefore be equal to zero, and this
at once gives us a number of relations between the above c's and d's. For
example, the coefficient of S^, p SP, is — (d6 — -) and this must vanish, from
which it follows that ds = s . The coefficient of Sx p SPA is then uniquely
determined.
Further, the term — d lv x S,, V S'° cannot occur by itself, since it is not
of the correct form (32). It can only occur in the form
— dl S vA — SA ' v").

By (2), the last part of this becomes — d 1 S a ' (S p " + 2 Sµ ,, vv). Similarly
the term — (d l + d 2 + 36) v X Sµv S"' can only occur in the combination
— (d 1 + d 2 + r5) S (5 ,,, v a — S"A v").
The last part of this can be put in the form — (d 1 + d 2 + i; ) S X " S^'.
Thus the actual coefficient of Sr" S N,' must be equal to the sum of the
coefficients of this term as derived in the above way. In other words
3 =d 1 —(d 1 + d2 +) — —(d2 + Y5)•
This at once determines d 2 . Similarly it can be shown for the coefficient
of S x ' 5.. v" that
_ —d l -f-d a -I-S
which at once determines d 4 in terms of d 1 . Proceeding in this way, we can
self
reduce M a to the form
self /
Maµ = g2 2 (Sa p DP — S p DPA).
The expressions to which these coefficients must be equal are given in the
self
last column of the table. Contracting M X, with v and remembering (1)
we get,
self
MAp' V P =g22 S^v [(d1 — c15 + s) S' v2 — (C 12 -- 15) S"

— ( c1 3+ d1 — 5) S Y p v p — (c14 + d1+ 325) S ° p va].

266 H. J. Bhabha
This must vanish according to (32), so that the coefficients of each of the
terms must vanish. This determines c12, c13, c14 and c 15 in terms of d l .
self
In this way all the coefficients which occur in M y can be determined,
either uniquely or in terms of one of them, say d l . The expression then takes
the final form given in the text by (46), where d is written in place of d l . It
should be noticed that this process of determining the coefficients is by no
means trivial, for many of the coefficients are overdetermined, and a
(0)
slightly different expression for M Xµ could make the process impossible.
Table of Coefficients
c l =— g cs = 2 ell =
C. _o,1 +^ e7 = 5 C12 = 1c
c 3 = — 2d + c8= c13=—d+

e4 = 15 c° = d + 3 C14 = — d —1
C5 =— 8 X10= d + 6 X15 -= d +

d1=d d3=—d-5 d5=—is

d2 =— d4 —d +i5 ds = s
We still have the condition (36) to satisfy, namely
v/` (T/ (°) — A w ( 0)) = I (Da µ S''). (36)
Using (63) and (65) we work out the left hand side of (36). Any terms in
this which do not contain Sx /, or cannot be transformed into such a form by
the relations (2) must vanish. This process completely determines all the
other c's uniquely or in terms of d l . The expressions for the various coeffi-
cients are given in the second table. The final result is that

rµg 22 [vµ { (S S) —2 (d + 1) S „ 2 — 3 (S„ S v) — 2 (d + 3) (S, S,,,)

self
,

—2 (S'Sv)— 2 (d +i (vSSv)+2 (d—) (S'Sv)-5 S 2 vI— ry S , (v)

+ S 2 v 2 — 4 S' 2 v 2 — 3 S 2 v 4 } +v µ {(SS) —2 (d-1--!) (S'S „) +2 (d-_) (S'Sv)
— S2 (vv)} + vµ {1S 2— 2 S'2_ s S 2 V2} — - 6 7lµ S 2

- (d + ) S µ vs y — (d+ 2 ) S µ , SP v P —2 (d -}-1) S S” _ (d + 3) S

— 2 S µv S VP v, + (d — 2 ) "P V P — Sµv S"„rv+ (d — is) Sµv S VP vP

+ 2 (a! is)
—
Sµv S"P vP+ (d+is) SµvS°P v P — ( d+ ) S µ v S'v v2
—a! Sµ, S ,,,, v 2 — (d + 1) S AS, S"P vP v 2 — 2 (d+ ) SA , S'" (v v)] .
 Classical Theory of Spinning Particles 267
There is no particular value of d which simplifies this expression consider-
self
ably. Perhaps d = effects the greatest simplification both here and in M aµ
self
When v w = v µ = 0 and S xµ = 0, T µ reduces to
2
g22 L — is vµ S2 Sµv S v

All the other terms in equation (30) also vanish in the absence of an external
field, so that this equation requires that the above expression shall be zero.
Using the last of equations (2) it becomes
I — i5 Vµ 8 2 + — 5 S µv SP v] = 0.
On contracting this with S^,w and using (22) we get
(_ is S Aµ vi') S 2 = 0
from which it follows that the second term in the previous equation
vanishes, and hence v µ = 0, which is the result quoted in the text.
Summary
The exact relativistic classical equations taking radiation reaction into
account for the rotation and translation of a point dipole are given for the
case where the dipole is always a pure magnetic dipole in the rest system.
These equations are entirely free from any singularities. It is shown that the
mass M, angular momentum of the spin I and magnetic moment g 2 are three
entirely independent constants with no connection between them. The cross-
section for the scattering of light by a dipole is given by formula (56).
This formula shows that due to radiation reaction the scattering actually
decreases as w 2 for very high frequencies w, instead of increasing as a
when radiation reaction is neglected. The quantum mechanical formula
for the scattering of neutral mesons by neutrons is shown to go wrong at
energies h w '^ 3 µ due to neglect of the effects of radiation damping. The
classical formula (56) can still be correctly applied in the range 3 µ < A w
< M, where the quantum formula is wrong, M being the neutron mass.
Finally reasons are given for thinking t ha t the quantum theory of the
electron fails at energies above about 1/3 x 137 m due to neglect of the
effect of radiation damping on the spin, and the quantum theory of the
meson and its inter-action with the electromagnetic field at -/6x17 µ.
REFERENCES
Bhabha .. Proc. Roy. Soc., (A), 1939a, 172, 384-409.
Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci., (A), 1939b, 10, 324-32.
Dirac . .. Proc. Roy. Soc., (A), 1938, 167, 148-69.
Frenkel .. Z. f. Phys., 1926, 37, 243-62.
Heisenberg .. Ibid., 1939, 113, 61-86.
Kramers .. Physica, 1934, 1, 825-28.
Pryce .. Proc. Roy. Soc., (A), 1938, 168, 389-401.
A2 . s