Dirac equation vs quantum electrodynamics
ID: dirac-equation-vs-quantum-electrodynamics
Dirac equation vs quantum electrodynamics by 
Ciro Santilli 35 Updated 2025-03-25 +Created 1970-01-01
Ciro Santilli 35 Updated 2025-03-25 +Created 1970-01-01TODO: in high level terms, why is QED more general than just solving the Dirac equation, and therefore explaining quantum electrodynamics experiments?
Also, is it just a bunch of differential equation (like the Dirac equation itself), or does it have some other more complicated mathematical formulation, as seems to be the case? Why do we need something more complicated than
The main high level insight seems to be that The Dirac equation does not work for more than one electron.
Bibliography:
- physics.stackexchange.com/questions/101307/dirac-equation-in-qft-vs-relativistic-qm
- physics.stackexchange.com/questions/44188/what-is-the-relativistic-particle-in-a-box/44309#44309 says:
By several reasons explained in textbooks, the Dirac equation is not a valid wavefunction equation. You can solve it and find solutions, but those solutions cannot be interpreted as wavefunctions for a particle
- physics.stackexchange.com/questions/64206/why-is-the-dirac-equation-not-used-for-calculations
- www.physicsforums.com/threads/is-diracs-equation-still-useful-after-qed-is-developed.663994/
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