Quantum phenomena and the zeropoint radiation field. II

A previous paper was devoted to the discussion of a new version of stochastic electrodynamics (SED) and to the study of the conditions under which quantum mechanics can be derived from it, in the radiationless approximation. In this paper further effects on matter due to the zeropoint field are studied, such as atomic stability, radiative transitions, the Lamb shift, etc., and are shown to be correctly described by the proposed version of SED. Also, a detailed energy-balance condition and a fluctuation-dissipation relation are established; it is shown in particular that equilibrium is attained only with a field spectrum ³.The proposed approach is shown to suggest an understanding of quantum mechanics as a kind of limitcycle theory. Finally, a brief discussion is included about the nonchaotic behavior of the (bounded) SED system in the quantum regime, as measured by Lyapunov exponents.On Leave of absence at Mathematics Department, University College London, srGower Street, London WC1, United Kingdom.     

The wave properties of matter and the zeropoint radiation field

The origin of the wave properties of matter is discussed from the point of view of stochastic electrodynamics. A nonrelativistic model of a charged particle with an effective structure embedded in the random zeropoint radiation field reveals that the field induces a high-frequency vibration on the particle; internal consistency of the theory fixes the frequency of this jittering at mc²/. The particle is therefore assumed to interact intensely with stationary zeropoint waves of this frequency as seen from its proper frame of reference; such waves, identified here as de Broglie's phase waves, give rise to a modulated wave in the laboratory frame, with de Broglie's wavelength and phase velocity equal to the particle velocity. The time-independent equation that describes this modulated wave is shown to be the stationary Schrödinger equation (or the Klein-Gordon equation in the relativistic version). In a heuristic analysis appled to simple periodic cases, the quantization rules are recovered from the assumption that for a particle in a stationary state there must correspond a stationary modulation. Along an independent and complementary line of reasoning, an equation for the probability amplitude in configuration space for a particle under a general potential V(x) is constructed, and it is shown that under conditions derived from stochastic electrodynamics it reduces to Schrödinger's equation. This equation reflects therefore the dual nature of the quantum particles, by describing simultaneously the corresponding modulated waveand the ensemble of particles.     

Quantum phenomena in gravitational field

The subjects presented here are very different. Their common feature is that they all involve quantum phenomena in a gravitational field: gravitational quantum states of ultracold antihydrogen above a material surface and measuring a gravitational interaction of antihydrogen in AEGIS, a quantum trampoline for ultracold atoms, and a hypothesis on naturally occurring gravitational quantum states, an Eötvös-type experiment with cold neutrons and others. Considering them together, however, we could learn that they have many common points both in physics and in methodology.     

Quantum field theories and critical phenomena on defects

We derive a nonlinear integral equation (NLIE) for some bulk excited states of the sine-Gordon model on a finite interval with general integrable boundary interactions, including boundary terms proportional to the first time derivative of the field. We use this NLIE to compute numerically the dimensions of these states as a function of scale, and check the UV and IR limits analytically. We also find further support for the ground-state NLIE by comparison with boundary conformal perturbation theory (BCPT), boundary truncated conformal space approach (BTCSA) and the boundary analogue of the Lüscher formula.     

Quantum field theory of optical birefringence phenomena

The inverse Faraday effect, in which a magnetization is induced in a solution through which is passed a polarized light beam of arbitrary ellipticity, is discussed on the basis of the S-matrix formulation of optical birefringence. It is shown that the Faraday effect and the inverse Faraday effect are topologically identical problems of diagrammatic perturbation theory and so it follows automatically that the magnetization should be proportional to the Verdet constant. The optical Faraday effect is the circular birefringence induced by an intense circularly polarized beam of light propagated colinearly with the weak measuring beam: the electric vector of the circularly polarized beam interacts with the molecule in a way that resembles the interaction of a static magnetic field. The interrelations of these two effects and the normal Faraday effect the self-rotation of the polarization ellipse of an intense beam are discussed.     

Quantum tunneling in a blackbody radiation field

It is generally considered that for a so-called normal system dissipation decreases tunneling rates. Here we show that at least one example of a normal heat bath, the blackbody radiation field, leads to an increase in tunneling. The reason for this exception to the general rule is the presence of mass renormalization.     

Quantum statistical properties of the radiation field in the degenerate two-photon emission process

The degenerate two-photon emission process is treated on the basis of quantum theory. Neglecting relaxation mechanisms, solutions in short time approximation are given. Relevant quantities as the mean photon number, second order correlation, field fluctuations and the uncertainty product are analyzed. It is shown, that an initial coherent state does not tend to a two-photon coherent state by two-photon emission as it can be expected from the results given by Yuen.     

Quantum statistical effects of the motion of an oscillator interacting with a radiation field

The motion of a quantum oscillator interacting with a quantized radiation field is studied. The exact solution shows that the motion of the oscillator is described by a Langevin-type equation in which the friction and the effective frequency depend on time. The physical conditions under which these properties become constant are studied. The stochastic force becomes a gaussian process and in the limit of long times and weak coupling, has an autocorrelation function with the usual delta behavior.     

Quantum theory of transverse galvano-magnetic phenomena

A quantum theory of electrical conduction in crosfsed electric and magnetic fields is given for the limit of very weak scattering. A density matrix formulation of the problem is used, and an arbitrary scattering mechanism is considered. The theory is found to be completely equivalent to theories given earlier by and by and .

Formulae are given for the resistivity in the quantum limit for both longitudinal and transverse orientations of electric field, for degenerate and non-degenerate statistics, and for several different scattering mechanisms. The oscillatory conductivity is calculated for acoustical and ionized-impurity scattering mechanisms. Formulae obtained for the quantum transport effects are in disagreement with the formulae of and of . The discrepancy is attributed to unwarranted approximations in those authors' treatments of scattering.     

Quantum gravity,random geometry and critical phenomena

We discuss the theory of non-critical strings with extrinsic curvature embedded in a target space dimensiond greater than one. We emphasize the analogy between 2d gravity coupled to matter and non self-avoiding liquid-like membranes with bending rigidity. We first outline the exact solution for strings in dimensionsd<1 via the double scaling limit of matrix models and then discuss the difficulties of an extension tod>1. Evidence from recent and ongoing numerical simulations of dynamically triangulated random surfaces indicate that there is a non-trivial crossover from a crumpled to an extended surface as the bending rigidity is increased. If the cross-over is a true second order phase transition corresponding to a critical point there is the exciting possibility of obtaining a well defined continuum string theory ford>1. This essay received the third award from the Gravity Research Foundation, 1992-Ed.     

Self field electromagnetism and quantum phenomena

Abstract

Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) has been extremely successful inits predictive capability for atomic phenomena. Thus the greatest hope for any alternative view is solely to mimic the predictive capability of quantum mechanics (QM), and perhaps its usefulness will lie in gaining a better understanding of microscopic phenomena. Many “paradoxes” and problematic situations emerge in QED. To combat the QED problems, the field of Stochastics Electrodynamics (SE) emerged, wherein a random “zero point radiation” is assumed to fill all of space in an attmept to explain quantum phenomena, without some of the paradoxical concerns. SE, however, has greater failings. One is that the electromagnetic field energy must be infinit eto work. We have examined a deterministic side branch of SE, “self field” electrodynamics, which may overcome the probelms of SE. Self field electrodynamics (SFE) utilizes the chaotic nature of electromagnetic emissions, as charges lose energy near atomic dimensions, to try to understand and mimic quantum phenomena. These fields and charges can “interact with themselves” in a non-linear fashion, and may thereby explain many quantum phenomena from a semi-classical viewpoint. Referred to as self fields, they have gone by other names in the literature: “evanesccent radiation”, “virtual photons”, and “vacuum fluctuations”. Using self fields, we discuss the uncertainty principles, the Casimir effects, and the black-body radiation spectrum, diffraction and interference effects, Schrodinger's equation, Planck's constant, and the nature of the electron and how they might be understood in the present framework. No new theory could ever replace QED. The self field view (if correct) would, at best, only serve to provide some understanding of the processes by which strange quantum phenomena occur at the atomic level. We discuss possible areas where experiments might be employed to test SFE, and areas where future work may lie.     

Conformal field theories and critical phenomena

In this article we present a brief review of the conformal symmetry and the two-dimensional conformal quantum field theories. As concrete applications of the conformal theories to the critical phenomena in statistical systems, we calculate the value of central charge and the anomalous scale dimensions of the Z ₂ symmetric quantum chain with boundary condition. The results are compatible with the prediction of the conformal field theories.     

Quantum phenomena in glasses at low temperatures

Glasses exhibit surprising low-temperature properties caused by the tunneling motion of small atomic clusters. We report here on recent dielectric measurements on a glass with the components BaO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂. In contrast to expectation, below 100 mK the dielectric properties become sensitive to weak magnetic fields. In this temperature range dielectric constant and dielectric loss show an oscillatory behavior with increasing magnetic field. Below 6 mK a phase transition within the ensemble of tunneling systems is observed.     

N-dependence of the lineshape in nonlinear radiation phenomena

Preliminary experimental results are reported on the investigation of the dependence of the intensity of the second harmonic generated by paramagnets on the number N of spins. A qualitative argument in terms of correlation effects among the spins is tentatively put forward to interpret the results.