Is the EM wave theory of light incorrect?

[k9b4]

What experiments disprove the idea that light is waves of electromagnetic field?

 

[Nugatory]

What experiments disprove the idea that light is waves of electromagnetic field?

None, because light is in fact electromagnetic waves. All this stuff about photons and "wave-particle duality" and the like comes from a more detailed theory about how light interacts with matter.

You might also want to read Asimov's classic essay about why we need to be very careful about tossing around the word "incorrect":
http://chem.tufts.edu/AnswersInScience/RelativityofWrong.htm

 

[k9b4]

None, because light is in fact electromagnetic waves. All this stuff about photons and "wave-particle duality" and the like comes from a more detailed theory about how light interacts with matter.

I suspected as much. Photon theory is just an extension of EM wave theory right? They are definitely not two competing theories?

 

[Nugatory]

I suspected as much. Photon theory is just an extension of EM wave theory right? They are definitely not two competing theories?

What you are calling "photon theory" is better known as quantum electrodynamics or QED (and I'm pretty sure that I've recommended Feynmann's "QED: The strange theory of light and matter" to you before). QED is not an extension of the classical wave theory of light (which comes from Maxwell's laws of electricity and magnetism); it's a different theory that reduces to the wave theory whenever the quantum effects are negligible.

But they are not "competing" theories; it's just that QED has a broader range of applicability.

 

[sardar]

The EM wave theory of light is a well-established and widely accepted concept in the scientific community. It has been supported by numerous experiments and observations, and has been successfully used to explain and predict various phenomena related to light.

There have been no experiments that have directly disproven the idea that light is waves of electromagnetic field. On the contrary, there have been numerous experiments that have further confirmed this theory.

For example, the double-slit experiment, which was first conducted by Thomas Young in the early 1800s, showed that light exhibits interference patterns when passed through two closely spaced slits, just like other types of waves. This experiment is a clear indication that light behaves as a wave.

Furthermore, the discovery of the photoelectric effect in the late 1800s provided further evidence for the wave nature of light. This phenomenon, where electrons are emitted from a metal surface when exposed to light, could only be explained by the particle-like behavior of light. However, it was later shown that the wave-particle duality of light can be explained by the EM wave theory.

In addition, the discovery of polarized light, where light waves vibrate in a specific direction, also supports the EM wave theory. This phenomenon can only be explained by the oscillating electric and magnetic fields of an EM wave.

Overall, the EM wave theory of light has been extensively tested and has stood the test of time. While there may be alternative theories that attempt to explain the nature of light, they have not been able to disprove the EM wave theory. Therefore, it is safe to say that the EM wave theory of light is not incorrect.