Stochastic electrodynamics

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Stochastic electrodynamics (SED) extends classical electrodynamics (CED) of theoretical physics by adding the hypothesis of a classical Lorentz invariant radiation field having statistical properties similar to that of the electromagnetic zero-point field (ZPF) of quantum electrodynamics (QED).

Contents

Key ingredients

Stochastic electrodynamics combines two conventional classical ideas – electromagnetism derived from point charges obeying Maxwell's equations and particle motion driven by Lorentz forces – with one unconventional hypothesis: the classical field has radiation even at T=0. This zero-point radiation is inferred from observations of the (macroscopic) Casimir effect forces at low temperatures. As temperature approaches zero, experimental measurements of the force between two uncharged, conducting plates in a vacuum do not go to zero as classical electrodynamics would predict. Taking this result as evidence of classical zero-point radiation leads to the stochastic electrodynamics model. [1]

History

Stochastic electrodynamics is a term for a collection of research efforts of many different styles based on the hypothesis that there exists a Lorentz invariant random electromagnetic radiation. [2] [3] The work of Marshall (1963) [4] and Timothy Boyer, [5] on stochastic electrodyanmics can be viewed building spontaneous emission into a semiclassical theory. [6] : 761 

Timothy Boyer, author of many papers in the field, has noted that some of papers on the subject contain exaggerated claims or errors. [2]

Scope of SED

SED has been used in attempts to provide a classical explanation for effects previously considered to require quantum mechanics (here restricted to the Schrödinger equation and the Dirac equation and QED) for their explanation. It has also motivated a classical ZPF-based underpinning for gravity and inertia. There is no universal agreement on the successes and failures of SED, either in its congruence with standard theories of quantum mechanics, QED, and gravity or in its compliance with observation. The following SED-based explanations are relatively uncontroversial and are free of criticism at the time of writing:

The following SED-based calculations and SED-related claims are more controversial, and some have been subject to published criticism:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Boyer, Timothy H. (March 2019). "Stochastic Electrodynamics: The Closest Classical Approximation to Quantum Theory". Atoms. 7 (1): 29. arXiv: 1903.00996 . Bibcode:2019Atoms...7...29B. doi: 10.3390/atoms7010029 . ISSN   2218-2004.
  2. 1 2 Boyer, T. H. (1980). "A Brief Survey of Stochastic Electrodynamics". Foundations of Radiation Theory and Quantum Electrodynamics. pp. 49–64. ISBN   0-306-40277-7.
  3. ↑ Boyer, Timothy H. (1985). "The Classical Vacuum". Scientific American. 253 (2): 70–78. Bibcode:1985SciAm.253b..70B. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0885-70.
  4. ↑ Marshall, T. W. (1963). "Random Electrodynamics". Proceedings of the Royal Society A . 276 (1367): 475–491. Bibcode:1963RSPSA.276..475M. doi:10.1098/rspa.1963.0220. S2CID   202575160.
  5. ↑ Boyer, Timothy H. (1975). "Random electrodynamics: The theory of classical electrodynamics with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation". Phys. Rev. D. 11 (4): 790–808. Bibcode:1975PhRvD..11..790B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.11.790.
  6. ↑ Leonard Mandel; Emil Wolf (1995). Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-41711-2.
  7. ↑ Boyer, T. H. (1973). "Retarded van der Waals forces at all distances derived from classical electrodynamics with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation". Physical Review A. 7 (6): 1832–40. Bibcode:1973PhRvA...7.1832B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.7.1832.
  8. ↑ Boyer, T. H. (1973). "Diamagnetism of a free particle in classical electron theory with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation". Physical Review A. 21 (1): 66–72. Bibcode:1980PhRvA..21...66B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.21.66.
  9. ↑ Boyer, T. H. (1980). "Thermal effects of acceleration through random classical radiation". Physical Review D. 21 (8): 2137–48. Bibcode:1980PhRvD..21.2137B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.21.2137.
  10. ↑ M. Ibison; B. Haisch (1996). "Quantum and Classical Statistics of the Electromagnetic Zero-Point Field". Physical Review A. 54 (4): 2737–2744. arXiv: quant-ph/0106097 . Bibcode:1996PhRvA..54.2737I. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.54.2737. PMID   9913785. S2CID   2104654.
  11. ↑ H. E. Puthoff (1987). "Ground state of hydrogen as a zero-point-fluctuation-determined state". Physical Review D. 35 (20): 3266–3269. Bibcode:1987PhRvD..35.3266P. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.35.3266. PMID   9957575.
  12. ↑ Kracklauer, A. F. (1999). "Pilot Wave Steerage: A Mechanism and Test". Foundations of Physics Letters. 12 (2): 441–453. doi:10.1023/A:1021629310707. S2CID   18510049.
  13. ↑ B. Haisch; A. Rueda; H. E. Puthoff (1994). "Inertia as a zero-point-field Lorentz force". Physical Review A. 49 (2): 678–694. Bibcode:2009PhRvA..79a2114L. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.79.012114. PMID   9910287.
  14. ↑ J-L. Cambier (January 2009). "Inertial Mass from Stochastic Electrodynamics". In M. Millis; E. Davis (eds.). Frontiers of Propulsion Science (Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics). AIAA. pp. 423–454. ISBN   978-1-56347-956-4.
  15. ↑ A. D. Sakharov (1968). "Vacuum Quantum Fluctuations in Curved Space and the Theory of Gravitation". Soviet Physics Doklady. 12: 1040. Bibcode:1968SPhD...12.1040S.


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