Sine Waves - Natural Emissions of All Matter?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of sine waves in relation to matter and whether they are the fundamental waves emitted by all matter. Participants explore theoretical implications, mathematical representations, and the relationship between classical and quantum physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if sine waves are the waves emitted by all matter, suggesting a potential confusion with other wave types.
  • Another participant clarifies that while arbitrary wave signals can be expressed as sums of sine and cosine waves through Fourier analysis, Bessel functions may be more relevant in certain contexts.
  • A different viewpoint discusses how elementary quanta, such as photons, propagate in sine or cosine modes, but emphasizes that Maxwell's electrodynamics allows for various wave shapes from accelerated sources.
  • Some participants express skepticism about visualizing photons as sine waves, arguing that the question of what a photon "looks like" is nonsensical due to the complexities of quantum mechanics.
  • Several posts reiterate the original question about whether sine waves are emitted by all matter, with responses indicating that sine waves are mathematical constructs rather than physical entities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether sine waves are emitted by all matter. There are multiple competing views regarding the nature of waves in physics, with some arguing for the mathematical representation of waves and others emphasizing the physical properties of matter.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the limitations of interpreting quantum phenomena through classical wave concepts and the challenges in reconciling mathematical models with physical reality.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the intersection of classical and quantum physics, wave theory, and the mathematical representation of physical phenomena may find this discussion relevant.

Imparcticle
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Are sine waves the waves that are theoretically deemed to be the waves [naturally] emitted by all matter? Or am I getting them confused with something else?
 
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No, but you may write an arbitrary (plane) wave signal as a sum of sine and cosine waves (Fourier analysis).
Bessel functions occurs more naturally if radial/spherical damping is present.
 
Last edited:
Imparcticle,arildno,
Elementar quanta (ie. photons) of EM radiation propagates in pure sine (or cosine if you like) mode.On other hand,Maxwell electodynamics allow any shape of changeable wave-supporting function from the accelerated source as arildno indicated..
To extend this picture further,it is appropriate to say it is even true for real macroscopic raditions from QED standpoint to be consisted of many elemantar quanta that can superimpose in various ways and form arbitrary wave forms in the spirit of the Maxwell's theory.How close classical electrodynamics in this case can match quantum picture depends in first place on the strenght of the considered field.
 
Is it suggested that elementar photons travel and look like sine waves?
 
zhana said:
Is it suggested that elementar photons travel and look like sine waves?
No!
I was just referring to the math forms of type (e^a)(sinx)(e^-a)(sin-x) that reflect some properties of photons people are familiar with.
Whole QM properties* (arising from quantum theory formalism too) make the "visualisation" of photon quant phenomena almost impossible for humans I suppose.Matter of fact I hold the question "How photon looks like?" doesn't make any sense.
cheers
____
* locality ,probability etc.
 
So are sine waves emitted by all matter or not?
 
Imparcticle said:
So are sine waves emitted by all matter or not?
The question is again on the "edge" of regularity.Quantum physics description of wave package of a photon ,as always,includes oscillatory terms,but photon locallity being the problem .So attenuation.Wave function even admits the interpretation photon potentialy spreads over entire universe.
It's a controversy of quantum theory-you can't know a complete info.
You may force one characteristics ,but lossing another.
Like in my post up I forced the frequency .Btw,last term in product was error due to too quick typing :it should be [tex]sin(\pi/2 -x)[/tex] not (sin-x) in order to generate sine function again).Methodology relates nothing specific-just math operative method that reflect property of the frequency.In bottom line there was allusion to old Huygens principle of wave and QM interpretation of the same phenomenon.

cheers
 
Imparcticle said:
So are sine waves emitted by all matter or not?
No. Sine waves are mathematical objects. Matter is physical. So your question makes no sense. A sensible question would be: are such-and-such type of physical waves accurately represented as sine waves?
 

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