Dynamics of Charged Particles and their Radiation Field

• Main Author: Spohn, Herbert (auth)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2004
• Subjects: Nuclear physics; coupled charge; electromagnetic field; energy-momentum relation; long-time asymptotics; adiabatic limit; self-force; comparison dynamics; Lorentz-Dirac equation; spinning charges; many charges; quantum theory; Abraham model; statistical mechanics; energy states; radiation; relaxation at finite temperatures; g-factor of the electron; stability of matter
• Online Access: OAPEN Library: download the publication; OAPEN Library: description of the publication

This book provides a self-contained and systematic introduction to classical electron theory and its quantization, non-relativistic quantum electrodynamics. The first half of the book covers the classical theory. It discusses the well-defined Abraham model of extended charges in interaction with the electromagnetic field, and gives a study of the effective dynamics of charges under the condition that, on the scale given by the size of the charge distribution, they are far apart and the applied potentials vary slowly. The second half covers the quantum theory, leading to a coherent presentation of non-relativistic quantum electrodynamics. Topics discussed include non-perturbative properties of the basic Hamiltonian, the structure of resonances, the relaxation to the ground state through emission of photons, the non-perturbative derivation of the g-factor of the electron and the stability of matter.