Infrared phenomena in quantum electrodynamics : II. Bremsstrahlung and compton scattering

Abstract

The infrared aspects of quantum electrodynamics are discussed by treating two examples of scattering processes, bremsstrahlung and Compton scattering. As in the previous paper one uses a non-covariant diagram technique which gives very clear insight in the cancelling of infrared divergences between real and virtual photons. The treatment of Compton scattering shows the necessity of reformulating a theorem of Thirring on the validity of the Thomson scattering formula at very low energies.