Electromagnetism as Quantum Physics

Waldyr A. Rodrigues, Jayme Vaz

Enrico Giannetto

Compiling a history of quantum mechanics is a very complex undertaking. Many roads have led to quantum theory: Heisenberg with Born and Jordan, Schrodinger, Dirac gave us the most important formulations of quantum mechanics. Another, neglected, historical rise of quantum physics is here considered by outlining the historical context in which different conceptions of Nature (mechanistic, thermodynamic and electromagnetic) were in competition to give a foundation to physics. In particular, the roots of quantum physics within the electromagnetic conception of Nature and Poincare’s quantum electromagnetic mechanics are discussed. This analysis can give a completely new understanding of quantum physics.

Nobuo Nagai, Hirofumi Sanada, Takashi Yahagi

Heaviside proposed the telegrapher's equations as an alternative to the Maxwell equations. The telegrapher's equations demonstrated that the electromagnetic waves propagate in coaxial cables at the velocity of light c. The electromagnetic waves are used in Fourier analysis, Laplace transformation, and z transformation. Electromagnetic waves exhibit the physical phenomenon of simultaneous “partial reflection and refraction”. Feynman found it tremendously important from the viewpoint of the physical phenomenon and advanced to the studies of quantum electrodynamics and quantum mechanics. In this session, we demonstrate that the physical phenomenon of partial reflection and refraction is an expression of the “law of conservation of energy” of electromagnetic waves, which falls into the category of classical physics.

Jaroslav Zamastil, Jakub Benda

Nikolay I. Zheludev

We aim to explore electromagnetic metamaterials as a platform for mimicking and modelling a broader physical realm. Keystone physics ideas and phenomena of quantum physics such as Electromagnetically Induced Transparency, Bose-Einstein Condensation, lasing, the Mossbauer Effect, the Meissner Effect, parity violation in atoms and the concept of anion are among those that could be intriguingly close mimicked in classical electromagnetic meta-materials.