Quantum electrodynamics

Quantum electrodynamics is a fundamental electromagnetic interaction theory satisfying the rules of both quantum mechanics and special relativity applied to the Maxwell Lorentz equations, electrons and the electromagnetic field. The theory was introduced around 1930 by Dirac and Fermi, Pauli and Heisenberg, but it was only formulated satisfactorily around 1950 by the combined efforts of Feynman, Schwinger, Tomonaga and Dyson.

It is considered to be the most precise of the quantum field theories, though currently the electroweak theory can also claim this title. Historically it was the first of the so-called quantum gauge theories.