Classical and quantum electrodynamics and the B(3) field (Q2730412)

The authors discuss the implications that electromagnetism has higher symmetries that may exist either at high energy or at low energy (or at both). They propose that electrodynamics can be developed as an \(O(3)_b\) symmetry gauge theory, in which there exists a fundamental vacuum component \(B(3)\) in the complex circular basis.NEWLINENEWLINE The book starts with the introduction of the \(B(3)\) field and electrodynamics as a non-Abelian gauge field theory. Next, the classical field equations of \(O(3)_b\) electrodynamics are given as suggested by the empirical existence of circularly polarized radiation and its reduction to Maxwell's equations and the fundamental laws of \(O(3)_b\) electrodynamics. This is followed by the general theory of gauge fields in relation to electrodynamics, nonlinear propagation of \(O(3)_b\) electrodynamics and the physical phase effects of \(O(3)_b\) electrodynamics.NEWLINENEWLINE The subsequent chapters are devoted to different topics in the context of \(B(3)\) field. Firstly, it deals with the quantum picture of the interaction between a charged fermion and the electromagnetic field with \(B(3)\) magnetic field, leading to photon-photon interactions and other subtle corrections. The next brief chapter, is a preliminary examination of the topological index number and its possible application to the quantization of chaos. The deviation of electrodynamics with \(B(3)\) field from the classical one, naturally means that there must be changes in the fundamental views of quantum field theory. This is taken up in the chapter on `Field Theory of \(O(3)\) QED and Unification' with weak and nuclear interaction. The short pen-ultimate chapter is a discussion of some possible applications of quantum electrodynamics with \(B(3)\) field. Herein, there is a modest suggestion of using \(B(3)\) field to detect the DNA sequences. The last chapter, a comparatively speculative one, is a major part of the book, spread over 100 pages. It is on duality and fundamental problems. `What is advanced here is that nature is basically dual, where this duality involves physics on the Planck scale and thus determines a duality on the gauge theories that exist in the universe'. It deals with such topics as, foundation for \(SU(2)\) electrodynamics, gravitation with one Killing isometry, brief discussion of string theory, Conformal Structure of the Vacuum, etc.NEWLINENEWLINE The presentation of the material is occasionally scratchy and imprecise. In fact, very frequent use of words like `Abelian' and `non-Abelian' without context is often incomprehensible. The authors emphasis in the Introduction that ``one major thurst of the book is that nature may well have suprises in store that evade current physical understanding'', further, ``the reader should be one with the willingness to consider physical possibilities outside their canonical knowledge''. Notwithstanding these remarks, the readers, to whom the book is addressed, having some elementary acquaintance with the \(B(3)\) field may get some rough ideas about various other fields (including biophysics, as the authors observe) where it is further applicable to get new results. Nevertheless, for the beginners, who aspire to comprehend a little more deeply, may be benefitted apart from the sketchy material presented in the text, by the exhaustive references to the literature of contemporary workers in the field.