THE MAGNETOSTATIC AND ELECTROSTATIC FIELDS GENERATED BY LIGHT IN FREE-SPACE - DELTA-FUNCTION DESCRIPTION

In general, the Maxwell equations can be solved with electric and magn etic fields which are sums of oscillatory and static components, the l atter being directed in the propagation axis of the electromagnetic pl ane wave. The electrostatic and magnetostatic fields are described cla ssically in terms of travelling delta functions, which in quantum fiel d theory becomes a description of the magnetostatic and electrostatic fields generated by a photon travelling at the speed of light in free space. The interaction of these fields with matter is investigated and the basic equations of electrodynamics derived in terms of the travel ling delta function formalism of the classical field.