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arXiv:quant-ph/0609156

A photon-like wavepacket with quantised properties based on classical Maxwell's equations

J.E. Carroll

Published Sep 20, 2006• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A photon-like wavepacket based on novel solutions of Maxwell's equations is proposed. It is believed to be the first 'classical' model that contains so many of the accepted quantum features. In this new work, novel solutions to Maxwell's classical equations in dispersive guides are considered where local helical twists with an arbitrary angular frequency W modulate a classical mode (angular frequency w, group velocity vg). The modal field patterns are unchanged, apart from the twist, provided that the helical velocity vh equals vg. Pairs of resonating retarded and advanced waves with modal and helical frequencies (w,W) and (w,-W)respectively, trap one temporal period of the underlying classical mode forming a photon-like packet provided W = (M+1/2)w: 'Schrodinger' frequencies. This theory supports experimental evidence that the photon velocity does not change with M in dispersive systems. Promotion and demotion increase or decrease the helical frequencies in units of w. An energy of interaction between retarded and advanced waves in the wave-packet is also proportional to these helical frequencies W = (M+1/2)w similar to Planck's law. Group velocity and polarisation are unaffected by the value of M. Advanced waves enable phase and polarisation to be predicted along all future paths and may help to explain the outcomes of experiments on delayed-choice interference and entanglement, without causality being violated.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.quant-ph/0609156

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A photon-like wavepacket based on novel solutions of Maxwell's equations is proposed. It is believed to be the first 'classical' model that contains so many of the accepted quantum features. In this new work, novel solutions to Maxwell's classical equations in dispersive guides are considered where local helical twists with an arbitrary angular frequency W modulate a classical mode (angular frequency w, group velocity vg). The modal field patterns are unchanged, apart from the twist, provided that the helical velocity vh equals vg. Pairs of resonating retarded and advanced waves with modal and helical frequencies (w,W) and (w,-W)respectively, trap one temporal period of the underlying classical mode forming a photon-like packet provided W = (M+1/2)w: 'Schrodinger' frequencies. This theory supports experimental evidence that the photon velocity does not change with M in dispersive systems. Promotion and demotion increase or decrease the helical frequencies in units of w. An energy of interaction between retarded and advanced waves in the wave-packet is also proportional to these helical frequencies W = (M+1/2)w similar to Planck's law. Group velocity and polarisation are unaffected by the value of M. Advanced waves enable phase and polarisation to be predicted along all future paths and may help to explain the outcomes of experiments on delayed-choice interference and entanglement, without causality being violated.
The first realistically photon-like Schrödinger solution of Maxwell's classical equations in dispersive media is presented. Classical modes of transverse electric or transverse magnetic fields with angular frequency ω propagating along an axis are shown to be able to be enveloped with counter-rotating helical modulations which have a different angular frequency Ω. These helical rotations, called distributed spin rotations, propagate at the group velocity. The formation of a completely closed packet of electromagnetic energy requires that the axial fields and transverse fields have a common axial length of envelope. This forces Ω to take quantized values in terms of ω with Ω related to the Schrödinger frequencies of a harmonic oscillator. The spin rotations permit flexible transverse confinement allowing for localization of the photon wave-packet over different spatial areas. It is argued that the energy of this packet is not related to its volume but depends on the quantized helical frequency Ω. Such photon-like packets possess classical phase and group velocities in keeping with experimental evidence. A single photon-like packet does not disperse in dispersive media. Incrementing or decrementing the rate of helical rotation promotes or demotes the packet energy in keeping with standard photon theory. The model offers explanations for self-interference and entanglement.
From a combination of Maxwell’s electromagnetism with Planck’s law and the de Broglie hypothesis, we arrive at quantized photonic wave groups whose constant phase velocity is equal to the speed of light c = ω/k and to their group velocity dω/dk. When we include special relativity expressed in simplest units, we find that, for particulate matter, the square of rest mass , i.e., angular frequency squared minus wave vector squared. This equation separates into a conservative part and a uniform responsive part. A wave function is derived in manifold rank 4, and from it are derived uncertainties and internal motion. The function solves four anomalies in quantum physics: the point particle with prescribed uncertainties; spooky action at a distance; time dependence that is consistent with the uncertainties; and resonant reduction of the wave packet by localization during measurement. A comparison between contradictory mathematical and physical theories leads to similar empirical conclusions because probability amplitudes express hidden variables. The comparison supplies orthodox postulates that are compared to physical principles that formalize the difference. The method is verified by dual harmonics found in quantized quasi-Bloch waves, where the quantum is physical; not axiomatic.
The classical free-space solutions of Maxwell’s equations for light propagation in one dimension include wave packets of any shape that travel at the speed of light. This includes highly-localised wave packets that remain localised at all times. Motivated by this observation, this paper builds on recent work by Southall et al. [J. Mod. Opt. 68, 647 (2021)] and shows that a local description of the quantised electromagnetic field, which supports such solutions and which must overcome several no-go theorems, is indeed possible. Starting from the assumption that the basic building blocks of photonic wave packets are so-called bosons localised in position (blips), we identify the relevant Schrödinger equation and construct Lorentz-covariant electric and magnetic field observables. In addition we show that our approach simplifies to the standard description of quantum electrodynamics when restricted to a subspace of states.
In a previous paper, we showed that the Hamilton equations of motion of a quantum particle are obtained as group velocities of the wave packet describing this particle only if the time dependent phase of a particle wave is proportional to the Lagrangian, not to the Hamiltonian as in a solution of the conventional Schrodinger equation. When a Lagrangian of relativistic form is considered, the wave packet of a quantum particle takes a physical form, with a finite spectrum of a cut off velocity (c). Based on a relativistic quantum principle, asserting the invariance of the time dependent phase for an arbitrary change of coordinates, we obtained the relativistic kinematics and dynamics, the electromagnetic field equations, the spin and the electromagnetic and gravitational interactions. When the Lagrangian is considered as a function of the Hamiltonian, we obtain a Schrodinger type equation with an additional term depending on the velocity and the momentum operator. Based on this equation, we investigate the dynamics of a relativistic quantum particle. In this framework, such a particle is described as a continuous distribution of conservative matter, according to the general theory of relativity. In an electromagnetic field, any time dependent phase variation is modified with a term proportional to a vector potential conjugated to the spatial coordinates and a scalar potential conjugated to time. However, this classical description tells us nothing about the structure of the physical world. Only Quantum Mechanics tells us something about the structure of this world. Namely, that this world is composed of species of identical quantum particles. On one hand, experimentally, it has been found that these particles are of a wavy nature. On the other hand, one could find that the simplest way to define a quantum particle is by a wave packet, with momenta conjugated to coordinates and energy conjugated to time Consider a quantum particle as a wave packet, and find that the group velocities in the coordinate and momentum spaces are in agreement with the Hamilton equations only when the Lagrangian is considered in the time dependent phases, instead of the Hamiltonian in the conventional forms of these waves as solutions of the Schrodinger equation. We define a relativistic quantum principle, and derive a wave equation for a relativistic quantum particle, the relativistic kinematics and dynamics of the particle waves, the Maxwell equations and the Lorentz force of a field interacting with the particle waves, the relativistic transform of such a field, and the spin as a characteristic of the particle waves. 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In this paper using the Clifford bundle formalism we show how starting from the photon concept and its relativistic Hamilton-Jacobi equation (HJE) we immediately get (with a simple hypothesis concerning the form of the photon canonical momentum) Maxwell equation (ME) satisfied by a null 222-form field F\boldsymbol{F}F which is a plane wave solution (PWS) of ME. Moreover, we show how introducing a potential 111-form A\boldsymbol{A}A such that F=dA\boldsymbol{F}=d\boldsymbol{A}F=dA we can see how a duality rotation changed in a \ spatial rotation transformation besides showing how i=−1\mathrm{i}=\sqrt{-1}i=−1​ enters Maxwell theory thus permitting the writing of a representative of ME as Schrödinger like equation which plays a key role in answering one of the main questions addressed in this paper, namely: is there any sense in talking about photon trajectories in de Broglie-Bohm like theories? To this end we investigate first the nature of the energy-momentum \emph{extensor} field of the Maxwell field T(n)\mathbf{T}(n)T(n) in some special situations showing that for some of those cases T0=T(γ0)\mathbf{T}_{0}=\mathbf{T}(\boldsymbolγ_{0})T0​=T(γ0​) even cannot describe the flow of energy. A proposed solution is offered. We also prove that there exists a pulse reshaping phenomenon even in vacuum. Finally we discuss the Schrödinger equation for a photon that follows from quantum field theory and investigate solutions that some authors think imply in photon localization. We discuss if such an idea is meaningful. Moreover, we show that for such solutions it is possible (once we accept that photon wave functions are extended in the space and also in the time domains) to derive a generalized HJE containing a quantum potential and which may lead to non lightlike photon trajectories in free space. We briefly discuss our findings in relation to a recent experiment.
Dispersion dynamics applies wave-particle duality, together with Maxwell’s electromagnetism, and with quantization E = hν = ħω (symbol definitions in footnote) and p = h/λ = ħk, to special relativity E2 = p2c2 + m2c4. Calculations on a wave-packet, that is symmetric about the normal distribution, are partly conservative and partly responsive. The complex electron wave function is chiefly modelled on the real wave function of an electromagnetic photon; while the former concept of a “point particle” is downgraded to mathematical abstraction. The computations yield conclusions for phase and group velocities, vp⋅vg = c2 with vp ≥ c because vg ≤ c, as in relativity. The condition on the phase velocity is most noticeable when p≪mc. Further consequences in dispersion dynamics are: derivations for ν and λ that are consistently established by one hundred years of experience in electron microscopy and particle accelerators. Values for vp = νλ = ω/k are therefore systematically verified by the products of known multiplicands or divisions by known divisors, even if vp is not independently measured. These consequences are significant in reduction of the wave-packet by resonant response during interactions between photons and electrons, for example, or between particles and particles. Thus the logic of mathematical quantum mechanics is distinguished from experiential physics that is continuous in time, and consistent with uncertainty principles. [Footnote: symbol E = energy; h = Planck’s constant; ν = frequency; ω = angular momentum; p = momentum; λ = wavelength; k = wave vector; c = speed of light; m = particle rest mass; vp = phase velocity; vg = group velocity].