Solutions of the Maxwell equations and photon wave functions (Q2379286): Difference between revisions

The Maxwell equations of electrodynamics are re-written in the representation of a six-component field. In this representation, the Maxwell field equations become similar to a single Dirac equation but with six components. The symmetry properties of this Dirac-like equation are then thoroughly analyzed. Solutions of this equation are explicitly worked out. These solutions are obtained without recursion to the (unphysical) vector potential. In this way, the ambiguities associated to gauge invariance are avoided. A complete set of eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian of the system as well as of the linear and angular momentum are calculated. These eigenfunctions are further classified into ``transverse'' (associated to electrostatic interactions) and ``longitudinal'' (associated to radiation field) states. A suitable sum of these eigenvalues provides a Green function for the Maxwell equations in this six-component form. It is also shown that, for a wavepacket, the expectation value of the Hamiltonian is exactly \(\hbar\omega_0\) (with \(\omega_0\) frequency associated with the wavevector of the packet) as expected for a photon.