Abstract

The Maxwell equations are shown to be the one-photon spin-one quantum equations. All Maxwell equations (without sources) are derived simultaneously from first principles, similar to those which have been used to derive the Dirac relativistic electron equation. The wavefunction is a linear combination of the electric and magnetic fields. The procedure is not unique, there are ambiguities of adding a scalar field. A quaternionic representation of the Maxwell equations (with sources) is constructed, a covariant reformulation of which is presented. Whittaker potentials are analysed. Conservation laws are derived using a method of “pseudo-Lagrangians.”