I got a topic to research Recommended preparatory reading?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on preparing to research the effect of electron-positron pairs on the quantum state of a photon. The participant seeks recommendations for reading materials to understand relativistic quantum mechanics, specifically to calculate the electron-positron-pair creation contribution to the photon Hamiltonian and solve the eigenvalue problem for the photon state. They have a foundational understanding from Griffiths' textbook and suggest Greiner's "Relativistic Quantum Mechanics - Wave Equation" as a suitable resource for this task.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Griffiths' Quantum Mechanics (Chapters 1-6)
  • Basic knowledge of electrodynamics, up to Jackson Chapter 5
  • Familiarity with Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics
  • Concepts of eigenvalue problems in quantum mechanics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Greiner's "Relativistic Quantum Mechanics - Wave Equation"
  • Research the calculation of photon Hamiltonians in quantum field theory
  • Explore the theory of electron-positron pair creation in quantum electrodynamics
  • Learn about eigenvalue problems in the context of quantum states
USEFUL FOR

Students and researchers in theoretical physics, particularly those focusing on quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, will benefit from this discussion.

bjnartowt
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I got a topic to research! Recommended preparatory reading?

I have been invited to write a proposal for researching this:

>> The basic idea is to calculate, in first approximation,
the effect of electron-positron pairs on the quantum state
of a photon. You will need to study some relativistic
quantum mechanics, calculate the electron-positron-pair
creation contribution to the photon Hamiltonian, and then
solve the eigenvalue problem for the state of the photon.
All can be done analytically and parallels a similar
calculation for the state of the electron. The analysis
will become part of a larger calculation (not for summer
but for later) that is numerical and could be a thesis topic. <<

However, I only know Griffiths ch. 1-4, a little bit of 5, and ch. 6, some electrodynamics (enough to be able to read and understand up to Jackson Ch. 5), and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. Any recommended reading for gently bringing myself to understand relativistic quantum mechanics?
 
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I recommend Greiner's book "relativistic quantum mechanics - wave equation"

It should be enough for this task
 

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