The special theory of relativity does not predict the existence of photons (quanta of electromagnetic radiation). However, it is demonstrated here that it follows from the special theory of relativity that if photons do exist---and we know that they do---then their energy must be proportional to their frequency. This means that the Planck-Einstein formula E=hν follows just from some results of the special theory of relativity and the assumption of the particle--wave duality.
The special theory of relativity does not predict the existence of photons (quanta of electromagnetic radiation). However, it is demonstrated here that it follows from the special theory of relativity that if photons do exist---and we know that they do---then their energy must be proportional to their frequency. This means that the Planck-Einstein formula E=hν follows just from some results of the special theory of relativity and the assumption of the particle--wave duality.
Re-examination of the work of Max Karl Planck has revealed hidden variables in his famous quantum work, consistent with Einstein's famous sentiment that quantum mechanics is incomplete due to the existence of "hidden variables". The recent discovery of these previously hidden variables, which have been missing from the foundational equations of quantum theory for more than one hundred years, has important implications for all the sciences as well as for understanding the interactions of electromagnetic radiation with matter. Planck's quantum formula, E = hν, is missing the variable for measurement time. Planck had included the missing time variable in his earlier electromagnetic work, but omitted it in his famous work that sparked the quantum revolution. Restoration of measurement time to Planck's quantum formula produces the more complete, E = h~ ν t. The numerical value Planck calculated for his action constant "h" takes on new meaning as an energy constant "h~" for light. Planck's energy constant is the mean energy of a single oscillation of light, namely 6.626 X 10-34 J/oscillation. The mean oscillation energy of light is constant, and does not vary with frequency or wavelength. The photon, as historically defined, is a time dependent packet of energy, based on the arbitrary measurement time of one second. An arbitrary, one second increment of energy cannot be a truly indivisible and elementary particle of nature. Omission of the time variable from Planck's quantum formula contributed to numerous paradoxes in quantum mechanics, such as uncertainty relating to formulations involving time, wave-particle duality, the need for normalization of wave functions, lack of dimensions for the fine structure constant, and irreconcilability of quantum mechanics and general relativity (Einstein's gravitational theory). Many of these paradoxes are simplified or eliminated altogether with a re-interpretation of quantum mechanics with Planck's hidden time variable and energy constant.
In the absence of any reliable document, from which Einsteins ideas on relativity prior to 1905 could uniquely be drawn, we are forced to make assumptions. If many historians (J. Norton, O. Darrigol, ) have privileged an electromagnetic origin, others like A. Miller have emphasized the role of light quanta. Ill come back on some evidences that the March quanta have played a role in the June and September 1905 relativity papers and reciprocally that the relativity principle may have influenced Einsteins reflexions on free moving quanta. From both a scientific and an historical perspective, the association of quanta and relativity is indeed natural if one has in mind Plancks work on the black body radiation and Poincarés contribution Lorentz theory and the reaction principle to the Lorentz Jubilee, which both occurred in mid-December 1900. As well known, the former introduced fixed energy quanta and the latter (quoted by Einstein in 1906) opened the way to a dynamical and relativistic (at first order in v/c) account of the electromagnetic field behaviour. But unknown, Poincarés paper also exhibited at this order the same transformation law for the energy and the frequency of an electromagnetic plane wave of finite length. If Einstein remarked this before 1906 (which is not proved), it may have encouraged his thinking of moving quanta. We would then meet the point of view expressed by R. Penrose in his preface of J. Stachels book Einsteins miraculous year, that it is virtually inconceivable that [Einstein] would have put forward two papers [March/June] in the same year which depended upon hypothetical views [particle/wave] of Nature that he felt were in contradiction with each other. March, June and September 1905 Einstein's papers would constitute a remarkable synthesis, in a fully original and new epistemological view, of Planck's 1900 work on the interaction between matter and radiation and Poincarés 1900 paper on the relativistic dynamics of charges and the electromagnetic field.
The classical and the quantum expressions of the energy of the electromagnetic radiation are compared. This comparison shows that, contrary to the commonly expected, the dependency of the energy [Formula: see text] of the photon with respect to the frequency [Formula: see text] on the Einstein–Planck relation [Formula: see text] is obtainable from classical electrodynamics, a fact that may provide a new historic perspective of the birth of quantum mechanics. It is suggested that the photon is a composite particle, constituted by quanta of electric and magnetic field fluxes maybe in an entangled state — being these two quanta either real or only as pseudo particles. It is also suggested a modification on the de Broglie’s fusion principle for the photon for the specific case in consideration.
[概要] 量子なる概念は, プランクの放射公式によって議論に俎上した. しかし, それは未だ単なる関数的関係にすぎず, リアルで現実的な物理的実体ではなかった. プランクの量子は現実存在ではないのである. これに対してアインシュタインは, 光量子仮説を導入することで, 量子をリアルでビビッドな存在とし, 量子は実体となった. これは, 量子を粒子として実体化することでもあった. われわれは, 本論において, このアインシュタインのアイデアと実体化の過程を詳細に追跡し, 幾ばくかの哲学的側面についての考察も行う. また, 考察の過程で波動一粒子の二重性の根源についての議論も行うこととなる. [Abstract] The concept of quantum came up in the discussions by the Planck's formula for radiation. However, it was a merely a functional relation, but not physical substance that is the reality. Planck's quantum does not have a real existence at all. In contrast with this, Einstein proposed the hypothesis of the light quanta as a real and with a vivid existence. Thus the quantum becomes a physical substance. This is also a substantiation of quantum as particles. We will see the process of this substantiation and the developments of the Einstein's idea in this article in details and have a few philosophical discussions about this process. We will see and also argue about the roots of the wave-particle duality.
The two equations E = h × f and E = (h × c)/λ for the quantum of energy of electromagnetic radiation provide the same result but describe electromagnetic radiation very differently. E = (h × c)/λ describes the quantum of energy of electromagnetic radiation to be located already in one wavelength and therefore like a particle. E = h × f describes the quantum of energy distributed over 299 792 458 m and therefore like a wave. To obtain h × f for the quantum of energy, we have to refer the quantum of energy to 299 792 458 m. Only then we obtain from E = (h × c)/(299 792 458 m), as the distance of 299 792 458 m of the velocity c is cancelling out now, E = h × 1/s = h × Hz, which is the precondition to obtain the correct value for the quantum of energy by multiplying Planck’s constant h by the frequency f. This already indicates the necessity of today's physics to have to speak of a particle-wave duality. It turns out that electromagnetic radiation consists of the first wavelength that carries the quantum of energy and behaves like a particle, which today is called “photon,” and a few following wavelengths that do not carry a further quantum of energy and behave like a wave, which today is called “electromagnetic wave.” By this knowledge, the particle-wave duality vanishes, and we obtain one single physical phenomenon, which I call “photon-wave.” The strange behavior of quantum objects at a single slit, at double-slits, and at beam splitters can now be understood in a causal way. “God does not play dice!” Einstein was right.
According to modern quantum field theory all elementary particles are quantum excitations of an underlying quantum field. In the case of the photon the underlying field is the electromagnetic field. In photon wave mechanics the photon concept was reached by a reinterpretation of the physical meaning of the free classical electromagnetic field. Such a reinterpretation does not give us a quantum theory of light quanta because the elementary quantum of action is foreign to classical physics. Although Planck’s constant does occur in the various Schro¨dinger-like wave equations we have presented in Part III it just plays the role of a multiplicative factor, see e.g., Eq. (10.36). The “justification” for bringing ~ into the formalism is the wish to make contact to the Einstein-de Broglie relations [Eqs. (10.40) and (10.41)]. In a sense one may call the light particle appearing from classical electrodynamics the classical photon.