[Physics] Electric field generated by a point charge moving at the speed of light

electricityelectromagnetismhomework-and-exercisesspecial-relativitywaves

enter image description here

As you see, this is the electric field generated by a point charge moving at constant speed v. I know that when $v$ -> 0, $E$ is just the Coloumb Law. But how do you interpret $E$ when $v$ -> $c$ ?

Can I just interpret it as the field of electromagnetic wave, because it moves at the speed of light?

enter image description here

Best Answer

Moving charges don't emit electromagnetic waves unless they are accelerating. A charge moving at a constant speed will just have a field that moves with it, but not a propagating field (i.e., electromagnetic waves).

Sources: Introduction to Electrodynamics by David J Griffiths 4th edition, section 10.3.2 and example 10.4 (pages 459-461), or the Wikipedia page for the Liénard-Wichart Potential.

Related Question