Quantum Electrodynamics Based on Self-Energy, Without Second Quantization: The Lamb Shift and Long-Range Casimir-Polder van der Waals Forces Near Boundaries

摘要

Using a previously formulated theory of quantum electrodynamics based on self-energy, we give a general method for computing the Lamb shift and related Casimir-Polder energies for a quantum system in the vicinity of perfectly conducting boundaries. Our results are exact and easily extendable to a full covariant relativistic form. As a particular example we apply the method to an atom near an infinite conducting plane, and we recover the standard QED results (which are known only in the dipole approximation) in a simple and straight forward manner. This is accomplished in the context of the new theory which is not second quantized and contains no vacuum fluctuations. 37 refs. (Atomindex citation 18:062499)