Vacuum compression of trapped electromagnetic waves

In quantum electrodynamics, photon–photon scattering gives rise to self-interaction terms in Maxwell''s equations. The effect will be non-zero for electromagnetic waves trapped between regions of conducting material, such as two plasma layers. It is shown numerically that this trapping in conjunction with photon–photon scattering can yield self-compression of electromagnetic waves. We discuss the relevance of our results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]