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Real and virtual processes in quantum electrodynamics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

J. Hamilton
J. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Christ's CollegeCambridge
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Extract

The S-matrix formulation of quantum electrodynamics, as developed by Feynman (3) and Dyson (1), expresses the matrix element for any process as a power series in the coupling constant, the coefficients of the series being, in general, rather complicated multiple integrals. These integrals contain singularities in their integrands, and in certain circumstances the coincidence of such singularities gives the S-matrix a non-analytic behaviour as a function of, for example, the total energy. The threshold behaviour of the S-matrix in the neighbourhood of energy values at which this phenomenon occurs has been investigated by Eden (2), who shows that the non-analytic behaviour is connected with the possible commencement of new physical processes, such as the creation of a particle.

Type
Research Article
Information
Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society , Volume 48 , Issue 4 , October 1952 , pp. 640 - 651
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge Philosophical Society 1952

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References

REFERENCES

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