Quantum Electrodynamics from the Point of View of Topological Groups

摘要

The report presents a summary of theoretical studies of the most general relativistic expression of the laws of electrodynamics, framed within the structure of a topologically covariant formalism. The form of the underlying topological group representations implies that the ensuing formalism is in terms of spinor and quaternion field variables and that the theory necessarily entails a coupling of three sets of field equations. These are the explicit representations of the matter fields, electromagnetic fields and gravitational fields -- each in terms of a common set of spinor and quaternion variables. Within this framework, the problems treated related to (1) the inertial masses of interacting particles, (2) a lack of spatial and temporal reflection symmetry in elementary interactions, and (3) the explanation of black body radiation from a description of coupled matter fields alone.