In quantum electrodynamics (QED), the fundamental description of electromagnetic interactions is given in terms of quantum fields, specifically the electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field is quantized, meaning it is described as a collection of discrete packets or particles called photons.
The wave nature of particles, including photons, is described by wave functions. In the context of QED, the wave function associated with a photon is not typically described in terms of transverse waves, compression waves, fluctuating spherical bulges, or waves oscillating into non-spatial dimensions or other fields. These descriptions are more commonly associated with classical wave phenomena.
In QED, wave functions are typically described mathematically using quantum field theory, which employs a formalism known as second quantization. The wave function for a photon, for example, is described in terms of a quantum field operator acting on a vacuum state.
The wave function in QED represents the probability amplitude for various states and properties of the particles involved in the interaction. It provides information about the probabilities of different outcomes when measurements are made on the system.
It's worth noting that the wave-particle duality of quantum mechanics means that particles can exhibit both particle-like and wave-like behavior. While wave functions are used to describe the wave-like aspects of particles, the interpretation of these wave functions in terms of classical wave phenomena is not always straightforward.
In summary, QED describes the wave nature of particles, including photons, using wave functions within the framework of quantum field theory. However, these wave functions are not typically described in terms of classical wave phenomena like transverse waves, compression waves, or oscillations into non-spatial dimensions or other fields.