Real and virtual processes in quantum electrodynamics

Abstract

The S-matrix formulation of quantum electrodynamics, as developed by Feynman (3) and Dyson (1), expresses the matrix element for any process as a power series in the coupling constant, the coefficients of the series being, in general, rather complicated multiple integrals. These integrals contain singularities in their integrands, and in certain circumstances the coincidence of such singularities gives the S-matrix a non-analytic behaviour as a function of, for example, the total energy. The threshold behaviour of the S-matrix in the neighbourhood of energy values at which this phenomenon occurs has been investigated by Eden (2), who shows that the non-analytic behaviour is connected with the possible commencement of new physical processes, such as the creation of a particle.