“Quantum” Beats in Classical Physics

We present an analysis of (and a classical model for) atomic decays that do (do not) exhibit what has been denoted “quantum beats.” The model shows that the appearance of beats is dependent on implicit (but not necessarily the extent of) phase coherence of the excitation signals. The significance of the existence of this model for arguments on the tenability of neoclassical electromagnetic theory as an alternate theory to quantum electrodynamics is discussed.