The nature of electromagnetic (EM) phenomena, including light, is not fully clear. Postulated rejection of EM ether as a hypothetical habitat and distribution of EM waves, holds in the uncertainty and the problem of understanding the existence of most of these waves, because the notion of "wave" inseparable from the concept of "environment". EM ether, as a hypothetical environment of origin and propagation of EM waves, was declined by postulate. This keeps the uncertainty in the problem of understanding the existence of these waves actually, since the definition of "wave" is an part of the definition of "environment". The input in physics of the concept of wave "coherence", which was necessary to explain the phenomenon of interference of light, also requires a transparent physical interpretation. Today use of the idea of the several-meters - length wave zugs, which are emitted by individual atoms, is at least unconvincing, thus there is technical ability to generate powerful light pulses of 10-15 s. A quantum model of the structure of the optical packet stream, which provides a transparent physical interpretation of all parameters of coherent light, is offered. In this model parameters of coherence are organically linked with the geometry parameters of the quantum packets. Developments of classical wave optics will not be discarded. To coordinate with the quantum-packet model and modern views about the nature of light, we either give them a new interpretation or adjust, or develop these developments. In particular, a new interpretation of the experimental fact increase the radius of coherence of light coming from distant sources (stars) is offered. Modern conception of light corpuscles-photons is formulated. The estimations of the size of the spatial localization of the photon is received. "Diffraction of photons" is considered.
The nature of electromagnetic (EM) phenomena, including light, is not fully clear. Postulated rejection of EM ether as a hypothetical habitat and distribution of EM waves, holds in the uncertainty and the problem of understanding the existence of most of these waves, because the notion of "wave" inseparable from the concept of "environment". EM ether, as a hypothetical environment of origin and propagation of EM waves, was declined by postulate. This keeps the uncertainty in the problem of understanding the existence of these waves actually, since the definition of "wave" is an part of the definition of "environment". The input in physics of the concept of wave "coherence", which was necessary to explain the phenomenon of interference of light, also requires a transparent physical interpretation. Today use of the idea of the several-meters - length wave zugs, which are emitted by individual atoms, is at least unconvincing, thus there is technical ability to generate powerful light pulses of 10-15 s. A quantum model of the structure of the optical packet stream, which provides a transparent physical interpretation of all parameters of coherent light, is offered. In this model parameters of coherence are organically linked with the geometry parameters of the quantum packets. Developments of classical wave optics will not be discarded. To coordinate with the quantum-packet model and modern views about the nature of light, we either give them a new interpretation or adjust, or develop these developments. In particular, a new interpretation of the experimental fact increase the radius of coherence of light coming from distant sources (stars) is offered. Modern conception of light corpuscles-photons is formulated. The estimations of the size of the spatial localization of the photon is received. "Diffraction of photons" is considered.
Today, the nature of light is accounted for by one of the jewels of physics, quantum electrodynamics (QED), the fundamental theory of light and matter. Yet owing to its infinite complexity, scientists still debate how its central concept, the photon, can be reconciled with the perceived existence of light waves, emerging 200 years ago in the wake of Young's double slit diffraction experiment. Ever since, the phenomenon of diffraction has been viewed to embody the wave nature of light, leading to the schizophrenic wave-particle duality. The latter does not exist in QED which is photon based without the existence of waves. Here we introduce the new paradigm that diffraction images directly reflect the fundamental quantum states of light. This is revealed by analysis of the evolution of modern versions of Young's experiment performed with differently modified laser light and photon-based detection. In conventional quantum mechanics, corresponding to first order QED, the fundamental photon nature of light remains hidden since different quantum states produce only two basic types of diffraction patterns that may also be explained by coherent and incoherent wave superposition. The true photon based substructure of light is shown to clearly emerge through characteristic diffraction images in second order QED. The degeneracy of the first order images is lifted, the wave-particle equivalence breaks down, and the patterns directly reveal the true quantum substructure of light. This allows the replacement of the conventional concept of wave coherence by a precise order-dependent degree of coherence that quantifies the interference and diffraction behavior of all quantum states of light.
The study of light through the centuries has produced a number of theories and experiments. Newton advanced the corpuscular theory, building on the early Greek view of matter composed of atoms. Then Young essentially proved the wave nature of light through the interference experiments. Maxwell provided the firm theoretical basis for the wave nature. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, further experiments showed predictions based on a continuous wave led to the well-known ultraviolet catastrophe. Plank and Einstein originated and developed the notion of the photon as an elementary quantum of propagating electromagnetic (EM) energy. The first half of the 20th century saw the development of the field quantization and the quantum electrodynamics (QED). Feynmann labeled QED as ‘‘the best theory we have’’ to describe the matter-light interaction. The second half of the 20th century witnessed the development of the coherent and squeezed optical states attributable to Glauber and Yuen. The study of light and electromagnetic fields has a long history. This chapter explores the nature of light in terms of quantum optics.
Discussion Paper: Light as a Continuous Electromagnetic Field - Rejection of the Photon Concept Abstract: This paper proposes an alternative interpretation of light: Light is a wave only. It rejects the photon and quantum hypothesis. We argue that light is not particles but a direct excitation of the universal electromagnetic field, which we identify as the modern "Aether". All observed quantum phenomena, including the photoelectric effect and blackbody radiation, can be explained by resonance and density of the wave within limited perceptual ranges of matter and biological sensors, without invoking energy quantization E=hν. 1. Definition of Light: Historical Aether: Historically, light was said to propagate in the "Aether". We revive this with a modification: Light IS the electromagnetic field itself that fills the universe. Origin: The EM field was created at the Big Bang as a primary energy explosion. Matter formed later from this field. Using Einstein’s E=mc2 with a correction: energy is a state of the EM field itself, where c is the oscillation speed of the(https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-New-Theory-Light-Color-ebook/dp/B093ZGXSYX (field .[1] [1] - (https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-New-Theory-Light-Color-ebook/dp/B093ZGXSYX).
The contents of the article is mirrored in its title. In science the fact is well-known, that often opposite notions about that or diverse phenomenon result in identical end results, that produces bitter controversies of the opponents. The example can be served by century dispute between the supporters of the wave and corpuscular nature of light, dispute between a system of Ptolemy and Copernicus and many other conflictings in the most miscellaneous areas of science. The wave description of physical phenomena cannot be executed without of elastic medium (ether) in which one there is a wave process and is diffused by means of this elastic medium. Therefore description of wave phenomena in a solid, liquid and gas adequately mirrors the test datas and problems here does not arise. There, where the elastic medium misses, it is necessary to invent miscellaneous ruses to distribute the wave description and to these objects: empty world space (world ether in the miscellaneous fancy forms), internal space of atoms (wave functions of probability), fields (short-range interaction of fields by means of transfer of a disturbance from one point to other), electromagnetic radiation of the Maxwell (simultaneous oscillation magnetic and electrical field in an elastic medium). The wave description of world is fine is designed, since above it many generations of the known scientists worked, but main brake here it is necessary to have in stock an elastic medium. There, where it no or there are doubts in its existence, a field for critics there is opened. In the formal-mathematical description of the world the elastic medium is not necessary any more. Record a wave equation and decide it for the diversified cases. Though in mathematical relation such description of the world perfectly, but the physical sense of mathematical manipulations is lost. Specially it notably in a quantum mechanics. As a consequence, the similar description it is easy to subject a severe critic. To be salvaged from of intrusive critics, it is necessary to invent completely fancy notions about a microcosmos, which one do not have conformity in a macroworld. Thus, the unity of the world is upset, that directly contradicts fundamental laws of universe. The absence of physical sense is the main unremovable brake of the formal-mathematical description of the world. The corpuscular description of the world, basically, is a merit of Newton. Because of small number of the supporters of such description «have defeated» wave notions. The main brake for of corpuscular world was established by Newton, by formulating the law even and rectilinear motion of free bodies. This law has become force majeure for explanation of an interference, polarization and some other properties of light. Attempts to mate the wave description with corpuscular (wave-corpuscle dualism of microparticles [1]) are originally doomed on a fall because of a principled difference between a wave and particle. The ether is not necessary for the corpuscular description of the world in any to the form, therefore photon, for example, billions of years not «being spread» can move in space, that is impossible from the point of view of the wave description of its motion. The main lack of the corpuscular description of the world consists in incompletness of official toolkit for such description. Only new corpuscular quantum physics has entered notion about originating of a gravidynamic field at motion of gravitational charges and bound with this fact by screw motion of free bodies. It has allowed to revise many fundamental rules of classic physics and quantum mechanicses and to realise a capability of the corpuscular description of the world to the full. Unfortunately, it has taken place after in heads of the scientists strongly was fixed paradigm, designed Einstein and fathers of a quantum mechanics. This paradigm had time knock home in heads of millions students and even of the homemakers. In outcome new scientific paradigm on the basis of new physics meets aggressive hostility. It, certainly, temporary phenomenon and the victory new paradigm in science is foregone, as was already repeatedly. It is a pity, that this the temporary interval, usually, exceeds temporary existence of the person in the land of the living, and orthodoxes permanently self-reproduction by conservative science.
This paper reexamines the concept of phase in the description of light and electromagnetic waves, focusing on its physical meaning and role in theoretical formulations. Although phase is commonly treated as a physically meaningful quantity, particularly in explaining interference phenomena such as the double-slit experiment, this work argues that phase should instead be understood as a mathematical variable introduced for convenience in solving and expressing wave equations, rather than as a physical entity. Electromagnetic waves are fully described by the wave equation, and phase naturally appears as part of its mathematical solution. This paper clarifies that phase velocity can exceed the speed of light without violating causality, precisely because phase does not correspond to the propagation of energy or information. Misinterpreting phase as a physical motion leads to conceptual confusion about the nature of light. Furthermore, the paper explores an intuitive perspective in which light is regarded as a continuous information structure, and examines how this intuition aligns with formal mathematical descriptions. It is shown that interference and related wave phenomena can be explained without assigning physical reality to phase itself, relying solely on the properties of the wave equation. By separating mathematical description from physical ontology, this work aims to refine the conceptual understanding of light and to highlight how terminology and formalism influence our interpretation of physical phenomena.