Aspects of Quantum Electrodynamics Compared to the Classical Case: Similarity and Disparity of Quantum and Classical Electromagnetics

Abstract

In this article, aspects of quantum electromagnetics (QEM) are discussed with a view toward illustrating basic concepts and making some connections with classical EM. The similarities and differences between the mathematical representations as well as the physical interpretations in the quantum and classical cases are reviewed, and a brief discussion of the different objectives and quantities to be measured/computed in quantum and classical regimes is provided. The role of the classical Green function in rigorous, fully quantum electrodynamics (QED) is highlighted, and an example of quantum state evolution in a graphene environment is presented.