Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Quantum Electrodynamics Based On Self-Fields, Without Second Quantization: A Nonrelativisitc Calculation Of G – 2, A. O. Barut, Jonathan P. Dowling, Jean F. Van Huele

Faculty Publications

Using a formulation of quantum electrodynamics that is not second quantized, but rather based on self-fields, we compute the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron to first order in the fine structure constant α. In the nonrelativistic (NR) case and in the dipole approximation, our result is a_e≡(g—2)/2=(4Λ/3m)(α/2π), where Λ is a positive photon energy cutoff and m the electron mass. A reasonable choice of cutoff, Λ/m=¾, yields the correct sign and magnitude for g—2 namely, a_e=+α/2π. . In our formulation the sign of a₃ is correctly positive, …