Stochastic electrodynamics
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Stochastic electrodynamics (SED) is a theory derived from quantum mechanics which attempts to explain numerous phenomena including inertia, gravity and the radiation paradox of the Bohr model of the atom in terms of a fluctuating electromagnetic field associated with zero-point energy. This field consists of a superposition of random waves of all frequencies and phases in all directions, with a power spectrum proportional to the cube of frequency, up to a very high frequency cutoff on the order of Planck time (presumed to be due to quark interactions).
The zero-point field's existence is theoretically derived from the fact that in quantum mechanics the lowest-energy state of a harmonic oscillator (such as a single mode of an electomagnetic field in vacuum) is not exactly zero. This is assumed to be merely an abstract mathematical result in quantum mechanics, but stochastic electodynamics starts by assuming that the implied field is real, and treats it as a random (stochastic) classical field acting on classical point particles. The frequency-cubed form of the power spectrum is derived from the requirement that the power spectrum be invariant under Lorentz transformation.
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Phenomena explained by stochastic electrodynamics
Inertia
Inertia is predicted by stochastic electrodynamics as an electomagnetic drag force on accelerating particles, produced by the zero-point field.
Gravity
Gravity is predicted by stochastic electrodynamics as an electomagnetic induced dipole shielding effect similar in nature to the Van der Waals force.
The commonality of mechaisms of inertia and gravity provides an elegant explanation for the equality of gravitational and inertial mass, which is assumed but not derived in general relativity. This also allows the Planck constant to be correctly calculated from the gravitational constant, or vice versa.
Atomic structure
Atomic structure is predicted as a the result of a thermal equilibrium between a particle in a potential well and the background field. This avoids the radiation paradox of the Bohr model of the atom, in which an orbiting classical electron will quickly radiate all its energy away and collapse into the nucleus. In stochastic electrodynamics because the orbiting electrons absorb exactly as much energy from the zero-point field as they radiate. An additional interesting result is that the absorption and re-emission by the electrons in an atom preserves both the frequency distribution and isotropic random phase character of the zero-point field.
An intuitive way to visualize this is that the electron is constantly trying to collapse into the nucleus but is blown off course by "gusts" from the background field and so always misses.
Uncertainty principle
As stochastic electrodynamics is essentially a classical theory with point particles, it predicts the Heisenberg's uncertanty principle to arise entirely from interaction with the zero-point field which randomly changes the position and velocity of every particle.
Cosmological models
See also
References
- L. de la Pena and A. M. Cetto, "The Quantum Dice: An Introduction to Stochastic Electrodynamics" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0792338189/), Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1996, ISBN 0792338189
- T. H. Boyer, "A Brief Survey of Stochastic Electrodynamics" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0306402777/), in Foundations of Radiation Theory and Quantum Electrodynamics, edited by A. O. Barut, Plenum, New York, 1980, ISBN 0306402777
- H. E. Puthoff, "Gravity as a Zero-Point Fluctuation Force," Phys. Rev. A 39, 2333 (1989)
- H. E. Puthoff, "Ground State of Hydrogen as a Zero-Point Fluctuation-Determined State," Phys. Rev. D 35, 3266 (1987)
- H. E. Puthoff, “Source of Vacuum Electromagnetic Zero-Point Energy”, Phys. Rev. A 40, 4857-4862, 1989
- Alfonso Rueda, Bernhard Haisch, "Contribution to inertial mass by reaction of the vacuum to accelerated motion" (http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/physics/9802030), Found. Phys. 28 (1998) 1057-1108
- Alfonso Rueda, Bernhard Haisch, "Inertia as reaction of the vacuum to accelerated motion" (http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/physics/9802031), Phys. Lett. A240 (1998) 115-126
- Boyer, Timothy H., "The Classical Vacuum" (http://www.padrak.com/ine/ZPESCIAM2.html), Scientific American, p. pp 70-78, Aug 1985
External links
- California Institute for Physics and Astrophysics (http://www.calphysics.org/research.html)
- H. E. Puthoff, Quantum Vacuum Fluctuations: A New Rosetta Stone of Physics? (http://www.ldolphin.org/zpe.html)
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Classical mechanics | Condensed matter physics | Continuum mechanics | Electromagnetism | General relativity | Particle physics | Quantum field theory | Quantum mechanics | Solid state physics | Special relativity | Statistical mechanics | Thermodynamics | |
