What Are the Implications of a New Relativistic Quantum Theory?

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The discussion revolves around a new relativistic quantum theory proposed in Eugene Stefanovich's book "Relativistic Quantum Dynamics," which aims to provide a consistent framework for interacting particles without the need for renormalization. The theory challenges traditional views by suggesting that classical electrodynamics can be formulated without electric and magnetic fields, using direct potentials instead. Critics question the derivation of Maxwell's equations from this new approach, emphasizing the importance of maintaining established engineering practices based on classical electromagnetism. Stefanovich argues that while Maxwell's equations are useful for macroscopic cases, they fall short in describing systems with few charges, where his particle-based theory offers clearer insights. The conversation highlights the tension between established theories and innovative approaches in theoretical physics.
  • #241
Dickfore said:
So, then, you have not proven relativistic covariance exactly, have you?

This is correct. The whole approach in Appendix O is perturbative and expansion in powers of 1/c^2 was used. Only low-order terms were retained in the proof.

However, there is a good reason to believe that relativistic invariance will be valid in higher orders as well. The traditional field-based QED is relativistically invariant (see Appendix N). The dressed particle approach is obtained from QED by means of a unitary dressing transformation, which preserves Poincare commutators (see subsection 10.2.8). Therefore, the full interaction potential between dressed charged particles must be relativistically invariant as well. Unfortunately, this full non-perturbative potential is not known yet and explicit proof of its invariance is not possible.

Eugene.
 
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  • #242
meopemuk said:
This is correct. The whole approach in Appendix O is perturbative and expansion in powers of 1/c^2 was used. Only low-order terms were retained in the proof.

However, there is a good reason to believe that relativistic invariance will be valid in higher orders as well.
Eugene.

lol, this is not considered a scientific argument. Why don't you derive a Hamiltonian in the next order in perturbation theory?
 
  • #243
Dickfore said:
Why don't you derive a Hamiltonian in the next order in perturbation theory?

This is exactly what I'm doing right now. The calculations are rather non-trivial as they involve loop integrals with their ultraviolet and infrared divergences. If I'm successful I'll have radiative corrections to the Darwin-Breit Hamiltonian, which describe, e.g., the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron and the Lamb shift. I will be happy to report my findings here when I'm done.

Eugene.
 

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