Something is wrong in the state of QED

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the foundations of QED, revealing historical errors, suspicious practices, and inconsistencies that challenge its claimed precision and reliability.

Contribution

It uncovers historical and mathematical issues in QED, questioning the validity of its most celebrated experimental confirmation.

Findings

Identifies questionable practices in the derivation of the electron g-factor

Highlights historical incidents of dishonesty in QED research

Points out mathematical inconsistencies and unresolved infinities

Abstract

Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is considered the most accurate theory in the history of science. However, this precision is based on a single experimental value: the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron (g-factor). An examination of the history of QED reveals that this value was obtained in a very suspicious way. These suspicions include the case of Karplus & Kroll, who admitted to having lied in their presentation of the most relevant calculation in the history of QED. As we will demonstrate in this paper, the Karplus & Kroll affair was not an isolated case, but one in a long series of errors, suspicious coincidences, mathematical inconsistencies and renormalized infinities swept under the rug.