The radiation reaction force on an electron reexamined

According to classical electrodynamics an accelerated electron emits radiation not only from its electric charge but also from its magnetic moment. Therefore, the radiation reaction theory of the electron should also consider the radiation emitted by its magnetic moment. In this Letter a radiation reaction force acting on a suddenly accelerated, non-relativistic point electron is derived from energy conservation considering both the radiation from its electric charge and the radiation from its magnetic moment. The associated equation of motion is a third-order differential equation for the acceleration which predicts nonrunaway accelerations provided suitable initial conditions are imposed. It is pointed out that the self-accelerations of the electron are predominantly caused by the radiation from its magnetic moment