Quantum electrodynamics in strong magnetic fields

Abstract

Quantum Electrodynamics is one of the most accurate theories ever formulated, repeatedly predicting the results of experiment. However, recent observations have lead to the discovery pulsars and neutron stars with magnetic fields in excess of 10(to the power of 13) T, giving us the possibility of testing QED in these extreme conditions. This dissertation seeks to answer the question: How would an extremely strong magnetic field alter the physics of QED, and how could we observe these changes? Accordingly we focus on processes which would alter photon emission spectra, namely the photon splitting process y -- yy which was one of the first processes realised to be only possible in strong magnetic fields. However, due to computational difficulties and a previous lack of applicability, very little work has been done to study this process until recently. Here, we evaluate numerically the splitting rates using an S-Matrix approach and calculate the effects splitting would have on an object's emission spectrum.