Quantum Electrodynamics

This classic work presents the main results and calculational procedures of quantum electrodynamics in a simple and straightforward way. Designed for the student of experimental physics who does not intend to take more advanced graduate courses in theoretical physics, the material consists of notes on the third of a three-semester course given at the California Institute of Technology.

Richard P. Feynman was raised in Far Rockaway, New York, and received his Ph.D. from Princeton. He held professorships at both Cornell and the California Institute of Technology. In 1965 he received the Nobel Prize for his work on quantum electrodynamics. He died in 1988.

Editor's Foreword

v

(2)

Preface

vii

Interaction of Light with Matter--Quantum Electrodynamics

3

(20)

Discussion of Fermi's method

3

(1)

Laws of Quantum electrodynamics

4

(19)

Resume of the Principles and Results of Special Relativity

23

(11)

Solution of the Maxwell equation in empty space

28

(2)

Relativistic particle mechanics

30

(4)

Relativistic Wave Equation

34

(22)

Units

34

(1)

Klein-Gordon, Pauli, and Dirac equations

34

(6)

Algebra of the Gamma matrices

40

(4)

Equivalence transformation

44

(1)

Relativistic invariance

44

(1)

Hamiltonian form of the Dirac equation

45

(5)

Nonrelativistic approximation to the Dirac equation

50

(6)

Solution of the Dirac Equation for a Free Particle

56

(15)

Definition of the spin of a moving electron

60

(2)

Normalization of the wave functions

62

(3)

Methods of obtaining matrix elements

65

(1)

Interpretation of negative energy states

66

(5)

Potential Problems in Quantum Electrodynamics

71

(20)

Pair creation and annihilation

71

(1)

Conservation of energy

72

(1)

The propagation kernel

72

(4)

Use of the kernel K(+) (2, 1)

76

(1)

Transition probablility

77

(1)

Scattering of an electron from a coulomb potential

78

(3)

Calculation of the propagation kernel for a free particle

81

(6)

Momentum representation

87

(4)

Relativistic Treatment of the Interaction of Particles with Light

91

(27)

Radiation from atoms

92

(1)

Scattering of gamma rays by atomic electrons

92

(2)

Digression on the density of final states

94

(1)

Compton radiation

95

(9)

Two-photon pair annihilation

104

(2)

Positron annihilation from rest

106

(1)

Bremsstrahlung

107

(4)

Pair production

111

(1)

A method of summing matrix elements over spin states

112

(3)

Effects of screening of the coulomb field in atoms

115

(3)

Interaction of Several Electron

118

(10)

Derivation of the "rules" of quantum electrodynamics

122

(2)

Electron-electron scattering

124

(4)

Discussion and Interpretation of Various "Correction" Terms

128

(34)

Electron-electron interaction

128

(3)

Electron-positron interaction

131

(1)

Positronium

132

(2)

Two-photon exchange between electrons and/or positrons

134

(1)

Self-energy of the electron

135

(4)

Method of integration of integrals appearing in quantum electrodynamics

139

(1)

Self-energy integral with an external potential

140

(2)

Scattering in an external potential

142

(8)

Resolution of the fictitious "infared catastrophe"

150

(2)

Another approach to the infared difficulty

152

(1)

Effect on an atomic electron

153

(4)

Closed-loop processes, vacuum polarization

157

(2)

Scattering of light by a potential

159

(3)

Pauli Principle and the Dirac Equation

162

(3)

Reprints

165

Summary of Numerical Factors for Transition Probabilities. Phys. Rev., 84, 123 (1951)

165

(2)

The Theory of Positrons. Phys. Rev., 76, 749-759 (1949)

167

(11)

Space-Time Approach to Quantum Electrodynamics. Phys. Rev., 76, 769-789 (1949)

178

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Quantum Electrodynamics

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials