Keywords

quantum electrodynamics, self-fields, nonrelativistic

Abstract

Using a formulation of quantum electrodynamics that is not second quantized, but rather based on self-fields, we compute the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron to first order in the fine structure constant α. In the nonrelativistic (NR) case and in the dipole approximation, our result is ae≡(g—2)/2=(4Λ/3m)(α/2π), where Λ is a positive photon energy cutoff and m the electron mass. A reasonable choice of cutoff, Λ/m=¾, yields the correct sign and magnitude for g—2 namely, ae=+α/2π. . In our formulation the sign of a3 is correctly positive, independent of cutoff, and the demand that ae=+α/2π implies a unique value for Λ. This is in contradistinction to previous NR calculations of ae that employ electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations instead of self-fields; in the vacuum fluctuation case the sign of ae is cutoff dependent and the equation ae=α/2π does not have a unique solution in Λ.

Original Publication Citation

Barut, A. O., Dowling, J. P., & van Huele, J. F. (1988). Quantum electrodynamics based on self-fields, without second quantization: A nonrelativistic calculation of g – 2. Physical Review A, 38(9), 4405-4412.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

1988

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/3804

Publisher

American Physical Society

Language

English

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Physics and Astronomy

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