In deriving his radiation law in 1900, Max Planck employed a simple harmonic oscillator to model the exchange of energy between radiation and matter. Traditionally the harmonic oscillator has been viewed as modelling an entity which is itself oscillating, although a suitable oscillating entity has not been forthcoming. (Opinion is divided between a material oscillator, an imaginary oscillator and a need to revise Planck"s derivation to apply to cavity modes of oscillation). We offer a novel, atomistic interpretation of Planck"s derivation wherein the harmonic oscillator models a transition between the internal quantum states of an atom|not a normal electronic atom characterised by possible energies 0 and hv , but an atom populated by subatomic bosons (such as pions) and characterised by multiple occupancy of quantum states and possible energies nhv ( n = 0;1;2; :::). We show how Planck"s derivation can be varied to accommodate electronic atoms. A corollary to the atomistic interpretation is that Planck"s derivation can no longer be construed as support for the postulate that material oscillating entities can have only those energies that are multiples of hv .
In deriving his radiation law in 1900, Max Planck employed a simple harmonic oscillator to model the exchange of energy between radiation and matter. Traditionally the harmonic oscillator has been viewed as modelling an entity which is itself oscillating, although a suitable oscillating entity has not been forthcoming. (Opinion is divided between a material oscillator, an imaginary oscillator and a need to revise Planck"s derivation to apply to cavity modes of oscillation). We offer a novel, atomistic interpretation of Planck"s derivation wherein the harmonic oscillator models a transition between the internal quantum states of an atom|not a normal electronic atom characterised by possible energies 0 and hv , but an atom populated by subatomic bosons (such as pions) and characterised by multiple occupancy of quantum states and possible energies nhv ( n = 0;1;2; :::). We show how Planck"s derivation can be varied to accommodate electronic atoms. A corollary to the atomistic interpretation is that Planck"s derivation can no longer be construed as support for the postulate that material oscillating entities can have only those energies that are multiples of hv .
As part of a study of Planck’s blackbody radiation theory, H. Poincaré (in 1911–12) advanced a theory which analyzed the partition of energy between “resonators” and the kinetic motion of atoms. Resonators (the objects of Poincaré’s theory) facilitate the exchange of energy between radiation and matter, but otherwise their identity has remained unresolved. Poincaré considered resonators characterized by a particular mean energy ε/[exp(ε/kT)−1], which he showed to necessarily imply quantized energies nε (n=0,1,2,…). We additionally consider resonators characterized by a mean energy ε/[exp(ε/kT)+1], which (using Poincaré’s methodology) we show to necessarily imply quantized energies nε (n=0 and 1). Resonators are here identified with transitions between internal quantum states of atoms. This includes normal electronic atoms characterized by possible energies nε (n=0 and 1), as well as atoms populated by subatomic bosons (such as pions) and characterized by multiple occupancy of quantum states and possible energies nε (n=0,1,2,…). We distinguish between Poincaré’s theory and the closely related analysis by P. Ehrenfest of quantization amongst cavity modes.
The neoclassical theory of the interaction of radiation with matter, introduced by its authors as a potentially viable alternative to quantum electrodynamics, is examined in the case of a multilevel atom interacting with blackbody radiation. The stationary statistical states of the atom and the field are derived, and two independently untenable results emerge. First, the stationary blackbody law turns out to be that of Rayleigh and Jeans, rather than that of Planck. Second, the mean energy of a harmonic oscillator, which interacts with the field only near a single frequency, turns out to be infinite. These results are discussed in the light of the neoclassical description of spontaneous emission.
The idea about a quantum nature of Planck's blackbody radiation law is deeply rooted in minds of most physicists. Einstein's work, in which the coefficients of spontaneous and induced emission were introduced, has always been regarded as a proof that quantum energy discreteness of an atom plays a crucial role in the derivation of this law. In our paper we avoid this standpoint. It may be shown that the de Broglie wave assigned to every material particle is a result of interaction of the particle with zero-point vibrations of electromagnetic ground field. The energetic spectrum of a harmonic oscillator is obtained from this fact within classical physics which coincides with the quantum result. Thus, it is explained here how the energy discreteness came into existence in stochastic electrodynamics (SED) --- the classical electrodynamics with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation. Next we reconsider the Einstein work from the viewpoint of SED and derive the Planck formula.
Background/Objective: To demonstrate that the formula for Energy distribution of radiation emitted from the cavity of a black-body, derived by German physicist Max Planck in the year 1900, has an alternative explanation independent of probability. Method: Energy released by radiations emitted from the cavity of a black-body, is compared with the energy released from an incandescent electric bulb. Electrical energy added to the bulb is envisaged to transform into energy-sphere that breaks-up into small packets of energy akin to radioactive decay of matter, and generates electromagnetic radiations causing brightness. Finding: Conjoining the quantization of energy and the technique of radioactive decay, a formula is derived for the brilliance of the incandescent bulb. The formula, thus derived, is found to be identical to the formula derived by Max Planck. This finding leads us to a unique outcome that the assumption of oscillators inside the cavity of black-body is not a requisite for deriving the formula as suggested by Max Planck, and believed till date. Elimination of oscillators also makes Boltzmann’s statistical method, which was utilized by Max Planck in his derivation, irrelevant to the formula, thereby making it independent of probability. Use of probability in physics leads to uncertainties and weirdness which is evident in quantum physics. This technique eliminates the probability from this basic formula of quantum physics and introduces a distinctive mode of generation of electromagnetic radiations from energy-spheres. Application/Improvements: This technique can further be explored and applied in ascertaining the behavior of electrons and other sub-atomic particles without the usage of probability. Keywords: Black-body, Probability, Quantization, Quantum Physics, Radiation
Abstract There are two rather different phenomena that furthered the development of quantum theory: blackbody radiation and atomic spectra. In fact quantum theory began in 1900 with Planck’s radiation law and his introduction of the quantum of action h (Episode 7). His derivation of the law was by no means stringent. He assumed the existence of many resonators (atoms or molecules) of different but fixed frequencies ν, which could emit or absorb radiation only in quanta of energy E = hν. Einstein, in his light-quantum hypothesis of 1905, postulated that the energy quantization is a property of the radiation field itself and not due to the material resonators. He found a similarity between a cavity filled with radiation consisting of quanta and a vessel filled with gas consisting of atoms. However, he could not obtain Planck’s law but only Wien’s (Episode 10).
An analysis of applying the property of speed instantaneity to electronic transitions (i.e., transitions of the atomic electron that are not instantaneous), instead of quantum jumps (i.e., instantaneous transitions), during a complete oscillation for the process of Bohr’s model of the atom absorbing and emitting electromagnetic radiation (i.e., photon) reveals a discontinuity that is conserved as an emitted electromagnetic radiation (i.e., photon) discontinuity. The frequency of the oscillations of the atomic electron (i.e., electric charge) and induced magnetic field for the transitions of the atomic electron (i.e., electric charge) during the complete oscillation for the absorption and emission process (of Bohr’s atomic model) is conserved as the frequency of the oscillating electric and magnetic fields of the emitted electromagnetic radiation (i.e., photon). The conserved frequency and discontinuity (based on speed instantaneity and electronic transitions that are not instantaneous) of the atomic absorption and emission process (of Bohr’s atomic model) lead to predicting the need for Planck’s constant (i.e., quantum of action) without the use of probability. Planck claimed the interpretation of reality must change if his method of deriving the radiation law stood on a physical concept. Einstein, whom Planck credited as the first to make an advancement in the quantum field, unknowingly introduced a quantized two-dimensional discontinuum geometry that is one of the foundations on which a table of five realities used in physics was developed for making predictions. Using the table of realities, locality is redefined, and entanglement is demystified.