Episode 158: Quantum Electodynamics Part 1

A detailed look into the physics and mathematics of quantum electrodynamics, the theory of how light and matter interact. We discuss the generalisation of the Schrodinger equation to the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, and howw these describe the propogation of light and fermions respectively. We then consider the process of computing transition probabilities between quantum states, including the S matrix and perturbation theory, and Wick's theorem. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 85: Introduction to Quantum Field Theory. If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.

You can listen to Episode 158: Quantum Electodynamics Part 1 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 158: Quantum Electodynamics Part 1 is an episode from The Science of Everything Podcast by James Fodor.

This episode is 51:10 long.

This episode was published on Mar 1, 2026.

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