Greg Neill <gneillREM@ove.netcom.ca> wrote:
>> Are Maxwell's equations compatible with virtual photons?

> Maxwell's equations comprise a classical theory.
> Virtual photons are part of a quantum theory.

> Maxwell's equations do not specify the composition or
> mechanism of the underlying electromagnetic field, but
> describe the field's properties and behavior in the
> classical limit.


Most quantum opticans use photons constructed by quantising 
the vector potential inside a field mode. Each field mode 
is one of a set of orthonormal solutions to (classical)
Maxwell's equations.  So, I would say yes -- the virtual 
photons ``live inside'' solutions of Maxwell's equations.

-- 
---------------------------------+---------------------------------
Dr. Paul Kinsler                 
Blackett Laboratory (QOLS)        (ph) +44-20-759-47520 (fax) 47714
Imperial College London,          Dr.Paul.Kinsler@physics.org
SW7 2BW, United Kingdom.          http://www.qols.ph.ic.ac.uk/~kinsle/