Is the electromagnetic field quantized?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the quantization of the electromagnetic field, specifically whether the field exhibits discrete values or remains continuous. Participants explore the implications of quantization on the forces between charged particles, touching on theoretical concepts without delving into mathematical derivations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Henrik questions whether the electromagnetic field of a particle is quantized beyond a binary presence and if the force between electromagnetic particles changes in discrete values as they approach each other.
  • One participant asserts that the energy of the electromagnetic field is quantized into photons, but the electric and magnetic fields themselves are not eigenvalues of the field's states, suggesting a complexity in their quantization.
  • Another participant provides a short answer stating that the electromagnetic field is continuous, contradicting the idea of discrete changes in force.
  • Bob introduces the concept of discrete bound states in the context of the Coulomb force and questions whether quantized binding energy implies quantized force, adding a layer of complexity to the discussion.
  • A later reply reiterates the position that the field is continuous, reinforcing the disagreement on the nature of the electromagnetic field.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the electromagnetic field is quantized or continuous, with no consensus reached on the nature of the field or the implications for forces between charged particles.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the definitions of quantization and continuity, as well as the implications of binding energy on force, which remain unresolved.

Hernik
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Hi!

I'm not a physicist. Just trying to get a feeling og matter, space and time without having to do the math (How DO you understand it?!?) Still I have a question.

Is the electromagnetic field of a particle quantized - except for either being there og not being there? Does - for example - the force between two electromagnetic particles that are moved closer change in discreete values?

Hope the question is understandable.

Thanks, Henrik.
 
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The field's energy is quantized into quanta called photons. As for the field itself, it's a bit tricky I think. The electric and magnetic fields are observables of the quantum electromagnetic field but they are not the eigenvalues of the field's states. The fields are described by the scalar and vector potentials. So in that sense, while the energy is quantized, the field's electric and magnetic amplitudes can vary though I would expect that their means would be quantized in accordance with the quantization of the potentials and energy.
 
Hernik said:
Hi!



Is the electromagnetic field of a particle quantized - except for either being there og not being there? Does - for example - the force between two electromagnetic particles that are moved closer change in discreete values?


Short answer: no, the field is continuous.
 
The Coulomb force between an electron and a proton, or between any two oppositely charged particles is such that there are only discrete bound states allowed, given by the solutions to either the Dirac equation or Schrodingers equation. The radial force is the derivative of the binding energy W: dW/dr = F(r), so if W(r) is quantized, does this mean that the force is quantized?
Bob S
 
After Bob's answer, it's worth repeating "Short answer: no, the field is continuous. "
 

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