ABSTRACT
The central problem in this chapter is to solve for the wave function for a particle of charge q and rest mass m propagating in a general electromagnetic potential. It explores a few of the important implications for wave optics. The chapter begins with a review of basic quantum mechanics governing particle motion. It confines the discussion to only those topics which are relevant to the motion of a fast (unbound) charged particle in a general electromagnetic potential. The chapter seeks a dynamical equation to describe the motion of a single particle of charge q and rest mass m in the presence of a general electromagnetic potential. Physically, a close analogy exists with the wave optics of light propagation. In quantum mechanical wave optics, one starts with a surface of constant phase called a wave front. In wave optics, the aberrations are manifest as displacements in the surfaces of constant phase.
