Quantum electrodynamics with nonrelativistic sources. I. Transformation to the multipolar formalism for second-quantized electron and Maxwell interacting fields

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.28.2649· OSTI ID:5375454

Power, E A; Thirunamachandran, T

The multipolar formalism is commonly used as the starting point in chemical physics and quantum optics for discussion of the interaction of radiation with atoms and molecules. The relationship of the multipolar to the minimal-coupling formalism is examined when both the electron and the radiation are second-quantized fields. Both the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations are considered: in the former the transformation between the two is a point transformation on the electron field coordinates, while in the latter it is a canonical transformation. The resulting equations of motion are Maxwell's equations, in terms of the basic and auxiliary fields, for the electromagnetic field and Schroedinger equations for charges in an electromagnetic field with the coupling given through the multipole moments. That the Schroedinger equation is different from that which arises in the minimal-coupling formalism is a natural consequence of the use of new field coordinates. The theory is extended to a system of molecules anticipating the discussion of intermolecular energies in paper III (the second succeeding paper).

• Research Organization: Department of Mathematics and Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H0AJ, England
• OSTI ID: 5375454
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 28:5; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ATOMS
CANONICAL TRANSFORMATIONS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONS
HAMILTONIANS
LAGRANGIAN FUNCTION
MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS
MOLECULES
MULTIPOLES
QUANTIZATION
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM OPERATORS
TRANSFORMATIONS