We show how the Einstein-Maxwell field equations of general relativity can be used to construct a Lorentz model of an electron as an extended body consisting of pure charge and no matter. In contrast with Lorentz’s approach using inertial mass, we associate the mass of the electron with its Schwarzschild gravitational mass. The Schwarzschild mass of an extended charged body as seen at infinity arises from the charge as well as the matter that the extended body possesses. The field equations for a Lorentz-type pure-charge extended electron are obtained by setting the matter terms equal to zero in the field equations for a spherically symmetric charged perfect fluid. Several explicit solutions to the pure-charge field equations are examined.

• Received 18 October 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.31.1860