The Blackbody Radiation Spectrum Follows from Zero-Point Radiation and the Structure of Relativistic Spacetime in Classical Physics

The analysis of this article is entirely within classical physics. Any attempt to describe nature within classical physics requires the presence of Lorentz-invariant classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation so as to account for the Casimir forces between parallel conducting plates at low temperatures. Furthermore, conformal symmetry carries solutions of Maxwell’s equations into solutions. In an inertial frame, conformal symmetry leaves zero-point radiation invariant and does not connect it to non-zero-temperature; time-dilating conformal transformations carry the Lorentz-invariant zero-point radiation spectrum into zero-point radiation and carry the thermal radiation spectrum at non-zero temperature into thermal radiation at a different non-zero temperature. However, in a non-inertial frame, a time-dilating conformal transformation carries classical zero-point radiation into thermal radiation at a finite non-zero-temperature. By taking the no-acceleration limit, one can obtain the Planck radiation spectrum for blackbody radiation in an inertial frame from the thermal radiation spectrum in an accelerating frame. Here this connection between zero-point radiation and thermal radiation is illustrated for a scalar radiation field in a Rindler frame undergoing relativistic uniform proper acceleration through flat spacetime in two spacetime dimensions. The analysis indicates that the Planck radiation spectrum for thermal radiation follows from zero-point radiation and the structure of relativistic spacetime in classical physics.     

Blackbody Radiation and the Scaling Symmetry of Relativistic Classical Electron Theory with Classical Electromagnetic Zero-Point Radiation

It is pointed out that relativistic classical electron theory with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation has a scaling symmetry which is suitable for understanding the equilibrium behavior of classical thermal radiation at a spectrum other than the Rayleigh-Jeans spectrum. In relativistic classical electron theory, the masses of the particles are the only scale-giving parameters associated with mechanics while the action-angle variables are scale invariant. The theory thus separates the interaction of the action variables of matter and radiation from the scale-giving parameters. Due to this separation, classical zero-point radiation is invariant under scattering by the charged particles of relativistic classical electron theory. The basic ideas of the matter-radiation interaction are illustrated in a simple relativistic classical electromagnetic example.     

Maxwell electromagnetic theory,Planck's radiation law,and Bose—Einstein statistics

We give an example in which it is possible to understand quantum statistics using classical concepts. This is done by studying the interaction of chargedmatter oscillators with the thermal and zeropoint electromagnetic fields characteristic of quantum electrodynamics and classical stochastic electrodynamics. Planck's formula for the spectral distribution and the elements of energy hw are interpreted without resorting to discontinuities. We also show the aspects in which our model calculation complement other derivations of blackbody radiation spectrum without quantum assumptions.     

Electrodynamics in the Zero-Point Field: On the Equilibrium Spectral Energy Distribution and the Origin of Inertial Mass

Attempts at an electromagnetic explanation of the inertial mass of charged particles have recently been revived within the framework of Stochastic Electrodynamics, characterized by the adoption of a classical version of the electromagnetic zero-point field (ZPF). Recent claims of progress in this area have to some extent received support from related claims that the classical equilibrium spectrum of charged matter is that of the classically conceived ZPF. The purpose of this note is to suggest that some strong qualifications should accompany these claims. It is pointed out that a classical massless charge cannot acquire mass from nothing as a result of immersion in any EM field, and therefore that the ZPF alone cannot provide a full explanation of inertial mass. Of greater concern, it is observed that the peculiar circumstances under which classical matter is in equilibrium with the ZPF do not concur with observation.     

Charge and Current Sum Rules in Quantum Media Coupled to Radiation

This paper concerns the equilibrium bulk charge and current density correlation functions in quantum media, conductors and dielectrics, fully coupled to the radiation (the retarded regime). A sequence of static and time-dependent sum rules, which fix the values of certain moments of the charge and current density correlation functions, is obtained by using Rytov’s fluctuational electrodynamics. A technique is developed to extract the classical and purely quantum-mechanical parts of these sum rules. The sum rules are critically tested in the classical limit and on the jellium model. A comparison is made with microscopic approaches to systems of particles interacting through Coulomb forces only (the non-retarded regime). In contrast with microscopic results, the current-current density correlation function is found to be integrable in space, in both classical and quantum regimes.     

Comments on Cole and Zou's Calculation of the Hydrogen Ground State in Classical Physics

Cole and Zou's computer-simulation calculation of the hydrogen ground state in classical electrodynamics with classical electromagnetic zero-point point radiation suggests that the problem of atomic collapse in atomic physics amy have been solved. Analytic calculations of the early 1980s do not contradict the new results.     

Einstein-Ehrenfest's radiation theory and Compton-Debye's kinematics

Einstein and Ehrenfest's radiation theory is modified in order to take into account the effects of the random zero-point fields, characteristic of classical stochastic electrodynamics, in a system of classical molecules interacting with thermal radiation. This is done by replacing the Einstein concept of random spontaneous emission by the concept of stimulated emission by the random zero-point fields. As a result, Compton and Debye's kinematic relations are obtained within the realm of a completely classical theory, that is, without having to consider the wave-particle duality for the molecules or the radiation.     

Contrasting Classical and Quantum Vacuum States in Non-inertial Frames

Classical electron theory with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation (stochastic electrodynamics) is the classical theory which most closely approximates quantum electrodynamics. Indeed, in inertial frames, there is a general connection between classical field theories with classical zero-point radiation and quantum field theories. However, this connection does not extend to noninertial frames where the time parameter is not a geodesic coordinate. Quantum field theory applies the canonical quantization procedure (depending on the local time coordinate) to a mirror-walled box, and, in general, each non-inertial coordinate frame has its own vacuum state. In particular, there is a distinction between the “Minkowski vacuum” for a box at rest in an inertial frame and a “Rindler vacuum” for an accelerating box which has fixed spatial coordinates in an (accelerating) Rindler frame. In complete contrast, the spectrum of random classical zero-point radiation is based upon symmetry principles of relativistic spacetime; in empty space, the correlation functions depend upon only the geodesic separations (and their coordinate derivatives) between the spacetime points. The behavior of classical zero-point radiation in a noninertial frame is found by tensor transformations and still depends only upon the geodesic separations, now expressed in the non-inertial coordinates. It makes no difference whether a box of classical zero-point radiation is gradually or suddenly set into uniform acceleration; the radiation in the interior retains the same correlation function except for small end-point (Casimir) corrections. Thus in classical theory where zero-point radiation is defined in terms of geodesic separations, there is nothing physically comparable to the quantum distinction between the Minkowski and Rindler vacuum states. It is also noted that relativistic classical systems with internal potential energy must be spatially extended and can not be point systems. The classical analysis gives no grounds for the “heating effects of acceleration through the vacuum” which appear in the literature of quantum field theory. Thus this distinction provides (in principle) an experimental test to distinguish the two theories.     

Effect of covalency,zero-point energy and charge transfer on the phase-transition,elastic and thermophysical properties of Ca-chalcogenides under compression

The pressure induced phase-transition, elastic and thermophysical properties of Ca-chalcogenides have been investigated by means of many body potential. The modified charge transfer potential consists of long-range Coulomb and charge-transfer interactions modified by covalency and short-range overlap repulsion extended up to second neighbours and zero-point energy effects. Another charge-transfer model excludes covalency and zero-point energy effects. These chalcogenides undergo first-order phase-transition at P _T = 39.23, 36.30 and 31.20 GPa and their equation of state show volume collapse of 10.12, 7.61 and 4.55% for CaS, CaSe and CaTe, respectively, which are in good agreement with the experiments. The elastic and thermophysical properties of these compounds have also been computed at normal and high pressures. Both the models are capable of explaining the Cauchy-discrepancy (C₁₂ ≠ C₄₄), elastic, phase-transition and thermophysical properties successfully.     

The Vacuum Electromagnetic Fields and the Schrödinger Equation

We consider the simple case of a nonrelativistic charged harmonic oscillator in one dimension, to investigate how to take into account the radiation reaction and vacuum fluctuation forces within the Schrödinger equation. The effects of both zero-point and thermal classical electromagnetic vacuum fields, characteristic of stochastic electrodynamics, are separately considered. Our study confirms that the zero-point electromagnetic fluctuations are dynamically related to the momentum operator p=?i ? ?/? x used in the Schrödinger equation.     

Universality in some classical Coulomb systems of restricted dimension

Coulomb systems in which the particles interact through thed-dimensional Coulomb potential but are confined in a flat manifold of dimensiond–1 are considered. The actual Coulomb potential acting is defined by particular boundary conditions involving a characteristic macroscopic distanceW in the direction perpendicular to the manifold: either it is periodic of periodW in that direction, or it vanishes on one ideal conductor wall parallel to the manifold at a distanceW from it, or it vanishes on two parallel walls at a distanceW from each other with the manifold equidistant from them. Under the assumptions that classical equilibrium statistical mechanics is applicable and that the system has the macroscopic properties of a conductor, it is shown that the suitably smoothed charge correlation function is universal, and that the free energy and the grand potential have universal dependences onW (universal means independent of the microscopic detail). The casesd=2 are discussed in detail, and the generic results are checked on an exactly solvable model. The cased=3 of a plane parallel to an ideal conductor is also explicitly worked out.Laboratoire associé au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-URA D0063.     

Theory of atomic spectral emission intensity

The theoretical derivation of a new spectral line intensity formula for atomic radiative emission is presented. The theory is based on first principles of quantum physics, electrodynamics, and statistical physics. Quantum rules lead to revision of the conventional principle of local thermal equilibrium of matter and radiation. Study of electrodynamics suggests absence of spectral emission from fractions of the numbers of atoms and ions in a plasma due to radiative inhibition caused by electromagnetic force fields. Statistical probability methods are extended by the statement: A macroscopic physical system develops in the most probable of all conceivable ways consistent with the constraining conditions for the system. The crucial role of statistical physics in transforming quantum logic into common sense logic is stressed. The theory is strongly supported by experimental evidence.     

A derivation of intrinsic spin one-half from random electrodynamics

A free charged particle in a uniform magnetic field is shown to acquire a magnetic moment of one Bohr magneton, a canonical angular momentum of $\text{h}\text{?}\text{2}$ and (hence) a g-value of 2. The analysis makes use of classical nonrelativistic electrodynamics with the additional assumption of a fluctuating zero-point radiation.     

Saturation of Electrostatic Potential: Exactly Solvable 2D Coulomb Models

We test the concepts of renormalized charge and potential saturation, introduced within the framework of highly asymmetric Coulomb mixtures, on exactly solvable Coulomb models. The object of study is the average electrostatic potential induced by a unique “guest” charge immersed in a classical electrolyte, the whole system being in thermal equilibrium at some inverse temperature β. The guest charge is considered to be either an infinite hard wall carrying a uniform surface charge or a charged colloidal particle. The systems are treated as two-dimensional; the electrolyte is modelled by a symmetric two-component plasma (TCP) of point-like ±e charges with logarithmic Coulomb interactions. Two cases are solved exactly: the Debye–Hückel limit β e²→ 0 and the Thirring free-fermion point β e²=2. The results at the free-fermion point can be summarized as follows: (i) The induced electrostatic potential exhibits the asymptotic behavior, at large distances from the guest charge, whose form is different from that obtained in the Debye–Hückel (linear Poisson–Boltzmann) theory. This means that the concept of renormalized charge, developed within the nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) theory to describe the screening effect of the electrolyte cloud, fails at the free-fermion point. (ii) In the limit of an infinite bare charge, the induced electrostatic potential saturates at a finite value in every point of the electrolyte region. This fact confirms the previously proposed hypothesis of potential saturation.     

Thermal Equilibrium Between Radiation and Matter

In 1916, Einstein rederived the blackbody radiation law of Planck that originated the idea of quantized energy one hundred years ago. For this purpose, Einstein introduced the concept of transition probability, which had a profound influence on the development of quantum theory. In this article, we adopt Einstein's assumptions with two exceptions and seek the statistical condition for the thermal equilibrium of matter without referring to the inner details of either statistical thermodynamics or quantum theory. It is shown that the conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium of electromagnetic radiation and the energy balance of thermal radiation by the matter, between any of its two energy-states, not only result in Planck's radiation law and the Bohr frequency condition, but they remarkably yield the law of the statistical thermal equilibrium of matter: the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. Since the transition probabilities of the modern quantum theory of radiation coincide with their definition in Einstein's theory of blackbody radiation, the presented deduction of the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution is equally valid within the bounds of modern quantum theory. Consequently, within the framework of the fundamental assumptions, the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution of energy-states is not only a sufficient, but a necessary condition for thermal equilibrium between the matter and radiation.     

Classical Coulomb systems: Screening and correlations revisited

From the laws of macroscopic electrostatics of conductors (in particular, the existence of screening), taken as given, one can deduce universal properties for the thermal fluctuations in a classical Coulomb system at equilibrium. The universality is especially apparent in the long-range correlations of the electrical potentials and fields. The charge fluctuations are derived from the field fluctuations. This is a convenient way to study the surface charge fluctuations on a conductor with boundaries. Explicit results are given for simple geometries. The potentials and the fields have Gaussian fluctuations, except for a short-distance cutoff.laboratory associated with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.     

Classical and quantum statistical mechanics in one and two dimensions: Two-component Yukawa — and Coulomb systems

We estimate the canonical and grand canonical partition function in a finite volume and prove stability and existence of the thermodynamic limit for the pressure of two component classical and quantum systems of particles with charge ± interacting via two body Yukawa — or Coulomb forces. In the case of Coulomb forces we require neutrality. For the classical system in two dimensions there exists a critical temperatureT _c at and below which the system collapses. For the classical Yukawa system the correlation functions exist for arbitrary fugacity and the general structure of the pure phases can be analyzed completely.     

Equilibrium properties of two-component classical plasmas

Two-component overall neutral classical Coulomb Gas is considered in the canonical ensemble for any value of the space dimensionality ν. The equilibrium properties, i.e. pair correlations and thermodynamic functions are investigated in two complementary ways. The first one is adequate in considering the low temperature range and uses the “molecular” interaction within a pair of unlike charges as a zero order starting point. On the other hand, the high-temperature fully ionized and translation-invariant plasma is considered within the nodal expression with respect to the classical plasma parameter. These two ways are possible through the use of effective temperature-dependent classical interaction for ν > 2. As a by-product, we obtain a unified treatment of the Coulomb Gas thermal properties with respect to dimensionality (integer or real). We also obtain a contrasting comparison with corresponding properties of the one component plasma model which are already known. In this analysis the ν = 2 two-component Coulomb Gas seems to be a landmark for the other TCP'₈. I do not consider degeneracy effects. I consider diffraction corrections in a first order expansion with respect to the Coulomb interaction, in the high-temperature range. The “Hydrogen atom” spectrum is explained for all ν. The long-range hypernetted chain resummation of the pair correlation functions asymptotic behavior does not hold for symmetrical (Z₁ = ?Z₂) plasmas; the corresponding onset of short-range order disappears when the plasma parameter increases. The modified long- and short-range behaviors of the pair correlation functions are then displayed with the canonical thermodynamics.