Speaker: Professor Lezanne Ooi
Affiliation: University of Wollongong
Abstract
In 1862 Maxwell unified the electric, magnetic and light phenomena within the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation. In 1920s Dirac put forward the theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED). In 1933-1934 Born and Infeld constructed the first non-linear generalization of Maxwell's electrodynamics that turned out to be a remarkable theory in many respects. In 1935 Heisenberg and Euler computed an effective action describing non-linear corrections to Maxwell's theory due to quantum electron-positron one-loop effects in QED. Since then, these and a variety of other models of non-linear electrodynamics have been extensively studied and used in a wide range of areas of theoretical physics including string theory, gravity, cosmology and condensed matter. In this talk I will overview general properties of Maxwell's theory and models of non-linear electrodynamics which are distinguished by their symmetries and physical properties, such as electric-magnetic duality and conformal invariance. I will also consider how non-linear electromagnetic effects may manifest themselves in physical phenomena, such as vacuum birefringence. The latter is still to be observed experimentally.
About Physics colloquium
The Physics Colloquium series hosts a range of speakers from Australia and abroad. The series explores a variety of topics and everyone is welcome to come along. The seminars are open so there is no need to register your attendance.
If you would like to sign up for colloquium announcement emails, you can join the mailing list by sending a blank email to:
- For UQ email addresses: physics-colloquium-others-join@lists.science.uq.edu.au
- For non-UQ email addresses: physics-announce-external-join@lists.science.uq.edu.au
(Note: if you receive physics-all emails, you should already receive these and don't need to sign up again).
Venue
Room: 305
