Reducible Quantum Electrodynamics. III. The emergence of the Coulomb forces

Abstract

The assumption is made that only transversely polarized photons are needed for a correct description of Quantum Electrodynamics. A simple mathematical transformation is used to introduce new field operators which satisfy the full Maxwell equations. In particular, they reproduce Coulomb forces between different regions of the charge field. The analogy with the polaron problem can give some insight in the physics underlying the transformation. In this context it is shown that the interaction of the electron field with a transversely polarized photon field can form bound states. The binding energy peaks for long wavelength photons.