The wave function of an electron has the well known statistical interpretation.
Does the classical electromagnetic field have a similar meaning as a wave function of a photon? If yes, what is the precise interpretation?
A reference will be very helpful.
The classical EM field can be regarded as the expectation value of the quantum field in a special type of state.
In quantum electrodynamics, the electric and magnetic fields are non-commuting observables, roughly analogous to position and momentum in non-relativistic single-particle quantum mechanics. In both cases, we have an "uncertainty principle" that limits how sharply-defined their values can simultaneously be. In a state where their expectation values are large compared to their "uncertainties," the expectation values can be regarded as classical electric and magnetic fields.
My self-answer to this question gives more technical detail and more links to related posts, especially regarding the relationship between the classical EM field and the "wavefunction" of a photon.
