Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Πυρηνική Φυσική και Φυσική Στοιχειωδών Σωματιδίων (ΒΑΣΙΚΗ ΦΥΣΙΚΗ)Library of the School of Science
Author:
Kastrinakis Stylianos
Supervisors info:
Βασίλειος Γεωργαλάς, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, τμήμα Φυσικής, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Γεώργιος Διαμάντης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, τμήμα Φυσικής, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Βασίλειος Σπανός, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, τμήμα Φυσικής, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Original Title:
Εισαγωγή στην Ενεργό Δράση Euler-Heisenberg και εφαρμογές
Translated title:
Introduction to the Euler-Heisenberg Effective Action and Applications
Summary:
This thesis covers the nonlinear electrodynamics of Heisenberg and Euler.
Being a quantum theory predicts that the behavior of the quantum vacuum
is that of a dielectric. Though historically the theory preceded quantum
electrodynamics (QED), the latter was many years later recognized as
fundamental and therefore the thesis is based on its tools for extracting the
Heisenberg and Euler theory. After a brief historical review, the basic
elements of quantum electrodynamics are developed and its selfconsistency
as a renormalizable theory is demonstrated. In the next
chapter, considering Heisenberg-Euler as an effective theory of quantum
electrodynamics, the general concept of effective field theories (EFT) is
described and examples from the standard model of elementary particles
are mentioned. In the fourth chapter the Heisenberg-Euler effective
Langrangian is derived to the level of one loop and in a constant
electromagnetic background by means of Schwinger's proper time method.
Finally we briefly discuss the expression that has emerged and some of the
effects it predicts.
Main subject category:
Science
Keywords:
non-linear electrodynamics, Heisenberg-Euler Lagrangian, Effective Field Theory, Schwinger’s method, photon-photon scattering
