Electrodynamics in a Strong Magnetic Field

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the electrodynamic phenomena which can occur in strong magnetic fields (on the order of 4.41x10 13 gauss). These phenomena are studied by means of a perturbation formalism, developed here to be exact to all orders in the field strength, and which is closely analogous to the diagrammatic formalism of empty-space electrodynamics. Using this method, the rate for pair production by single photons is calculated, as well as an approximation to it. The index of refraction of the strong field region is also calculated, as is the low-frequency photon splitting amplitude. In addition, this thesis studies some phenomena occurring at very high field strengths, in particular the energy of the ground state to first order in the fine-structure constant, and the counter-intuitive non annihilating states. Numerical calculations are made where relevant.