Mathematical Questions and Challenges in Quantum Electrodynamics and its Applications

Abstract

Quantum field theory (QFT) may be considered one of the most fundamental frameworks of theoretical physics. Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) is the part of QFT that describes the interaction between matter and light. Although it is one of the experimentally best tested theories, it yet faces many open mathematical questions and challenges. The mathematical rigorous framework of QED and the implications deriving from it is the topic of Workshop 1737 held at MFO from September 11 through 15, 2017, bringing together mathematicians and theoretical physicists to discuss topics such as high- and low-energy QED, external field QED, quantum optics, many-boson and many-fermion systems, transport properties in condensed matter.