A Calculation on the Self-field of a Point Charge and the Unruh Effect

Within the context of the quantum field theory in curved space-times, Hacyan and Sarmiento defined the vacuum stress-energy tensor with respect to the accelerated observer. They calculated it for a uniform acceleration and a circular motion, and derived that the rotating observer perceives a flux. Mane related the flux to synchrotron radiation. In order to investigate the relation between the vacuum stress and bremsstrahlung, we estimate the stress-energy tensor of electromagnetic field generated by a point charge, at the position of the charge. We use the retarded field as a self-field of the point charge, therefore the tensor diverges if we evaluate it as it is. So we remove the divergent contributions by using the expansion of the tensor in powers of the distance from the point charge. Finally, we take an average for the angular dependence of the expansion. We calculate it for the uniform acceleration and the circular motion, and it is found that the order of vacuum stress multiplied by πα (α = e2/h̄c is the fine structure constant) is equal to that of self-stress.