What is QED Theory and How Does It Explain Electric Charge Interactions?

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SUMMARY

Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) is the quantum field theory that describes electromagnetic interactions of matter. It explains the attraction between opposite charges and the repulsion between like charges, providing the Coulomb potential in low-energy limits. However, QED does not account for the intrinsic nature of particle charges, which are treated conventionally and subject to gauge transformations within the U(1) gauge group. The preservation of local gauge symmetry is essential for the theory's consistency.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum field theory concepts
  • Familiarity with gauge symmetry and its implications
  • Knowledge of electromagnetic interactions
  • Basic grasp of the U(1) gauge group and gauge transformations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of gauge symmetry in quantum field theories
  • Study the Coulomb potential and its derivation in QED
  • Explore the concept of gauge anomalies and their significance
  • Read John Baez's blog on virtual particles for a simplified explanation of QED
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Quarlep
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I looked QED theory but I don't understand anything can someone explain me What is a QED theory ?
 
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Your question is very general- you should specify it more to get a more specific answer...however I'd reply that QED is quantum electrodynamics. It's the theory which describes the electromagnetic interactions of matter from a quantum field theory point of view. What else do you want to know?
 
Can it explain what's charge or why same chargea are repel and different charges are attraced
 
Quarlep said:
Can it explain what's charge or why same chargea are repel and different charges are attraced

Yes.

A deep analysis shows its basis is what called gauge symmetry, without going into the details of what that is.

Thanks
Bill
 
From what I've seen so far it doesn't explain why particles have the charges they do...but the charges are taken conventionally as such (you have the freedom to choose whichever gauge transformation of U[1] gauge group e^{i \lambda Q} and the charges you'll have for your matter field will be \lambda Q )... However there are constraints on the all particle charges to avoid some gauge anomalies.
But yes, it can explain the repulsion and attraction between same and opposite charges, as well as give you the Coulomb potential in the low-energy limit.
 
ChrisVer said:
From what I've seen so far it doesn't explain why particles have the charges they do...but the charges are taken conventionally as such (you have the freedom to choose whichever gauge transformation of U[1] gauge group e^{i \lambda Q} and the charges you'll have for your matter field will be \lambda Q )... However there are constraints on the all particle charges to avoid some gauge anomalies.
But yes, it can explain the repulsion and attraction between same and opposite charges, as well as give you the Coulomb potential in the low-energy limit.

That's true. It doesn't explain why particles have the charges they do - but it does explain why in general charge exists.

Its required to preserve local gauge symmetry:
http://quantummechanics.ucsd.edu/ph130a/130_notes/node296.html

Thanks
Bill
 
Nice simple explanation of gauge symmetry here:

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1999/press.html

An electric field E can be expressed as a potential V. The very simplest transformation of V is to add a constant to it. But V can be calculated from any zero point, since only differences in potential are of significance. That the zero point can be moved in this way is perceived as a symmetry in the theory, gauge symmetry...
 
Thank you very much
 

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