Ampere's law with quantum mechanics

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Ampere's law, which states that parallel electrical currents attract, is explained in the context of quantum mechanics through the magnetic force. This force ensures that the electric force aligns with special relativity, as the electric force alone would not transform correctly between inertial frames. The existence of the electric force is attributed to the exchange of photons between charged particles. For deeper insights, exploring the coupling between charged particles and photons is essential, leading to the study of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Ampere's law and its implications in classical electromagnetism.
  • Familiarity with special relativity and its principles.
  • Basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and particle interactions.
  • Introduction to Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and its significance in modern physics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) to understand the interaction between charged particles and photons.
  • Study the principles of special relativity and their application to electromagnetic forces.
  • Explore the role of magnetic forces in the context of parallel electrical currents.
  • Investigate the historical development and experimental validation of Ampere's law.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, electrical engineers, and students of advanced physics seeking to understand the intersection of classical electromagnetism and quantum mechanics.

exmarine
Messages
241
Reaction score
11
Ampere’s law – parallel electrical currents attract – has been known for a long time. How is that understood or explained in quantum mechanics?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The attractive force between parallel currents is the magnetic force. The magnetic force exists so that the electric force comports with special relativity: if the electric force existed on its own, then the force on a particle wouldn't transform right from one inertial frame to the other. So now the question becomes why does the electric force exist? The electric force is due to the exchange of photons between charged particles.

P.S. We can go further down the rabbit hole. Why is there a coupling between charged particles and photons in the first place? At some point in physics it's safer to say "Beats me."
 
If you want to really get into this you might Google "Quantum electrodynamics."
Wiki is the first reference I got there and will give you a bunch of information that might make your head hurt, but working backward and forward from the information there may be enlightening.
DC
 

Similar threads

High School Is diamagnetism only present with varying magnetic fields?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Undergrad Energy and momentum in quantum mechanics
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Graduate Can Quantum Mechanics be postulated to exclude humans?
  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
6K
Graduate Multiparticle Relativistic Quantum Mechanics in an external potential
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
Undergrad Lagrangian Mechanics, Continuous Particle Paths and QFT
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad States and observables in quantum mechanics
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Undergrad How Do Radio Antennas Function in Quantum Mechanics?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Entanglement might be the result of an underlying law?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Undergrad How to derive orbital angular momentum of spins in quantum mechanics?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad Postulate of only time dependence on |ψ⟩
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K