Continuous Transitions Between Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics

Abstract

The Maxwell equations in the presence of sources are first derived without making use of the potentials and the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for classical electrodynamics is written down. The manifestly gauge invariant theory is then quantized to write down the Hamilton-Jacobi equation in quantum electrodynamics. Finally, an interpolating field theory is proposed that describes continuous transitions between quantum and classical electrodynamics. It is shown that energy flow lines are identical for quantum and classical fields in the case of the double-slit arrangement but differ in the case of vortex beams.