Phonon vs Photon: What's the Difference?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the fundamental differences between photons and phonons. Photons are defined as quanta of the electromagnetic field, while phonons are collective excitations of lattices in condensed matter. In Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), photons are treated as elementary particles, whereas phonons are always associated with underlying structures. The conversation also touches on the Action-At-A-Distance (AAAD) theory, which presents photons as quasiparticles in the absence of an electromagnetic field.

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  • Understanding of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
  • Familiarity with condensed matter physics
  • Knowledge of particle physics terminology
  • Concept of collective excitations in solid-state physics
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  • Research the implications of Action-At-A-Distance (AAAD) theory in modern physics
  • Explore the role of photons in Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
  • Study the properties and applications of phonons in condensed matter physics
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What is the difference between the photon and the phonon ?
 
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Photons are quanta (particles) of the electromanetic field; phonons are collective excitations (quasi particles) of lattices in condensed matter.
 
Thank you.
 
tom.stoer said:
Photons are quanta (particles) of the electromanetic field; phonons are collective excitations (quasi particles) of lattices in condensed matter.

Photons can be also interpreted as quasi particles resulting from collective excitations. This is specially true in action-at-a-distance theory electrodynamics, where electromagnetic fields do not exist as material systems.
 
juanrga said:
Photons can be also interpreted as quasi particles resulting from collective excitations. This is specially true in action-at-a-distance theory electrodynamics, where electromagnetic fields do not exist as material systems.
What do you have in mind? In QED photons are elementary particles, whereas phonons always consist of underlying structures.
 
juanrga said:
Photons can be also interpreted as quasi particles resulting from collective excitations. This is specially true in action-at-a-distance theory electrodynamics, where electromagnetic fields do not exist as material systems.

Do you mean something like a coherent state?
 
tom.stoer said:
What do you have in mind? In QED photons are elementary particles, whereas phonons always consist of underlying structures.

In field-theoretic QED photons are the particles associated to the EM field. IN AAAD QED, there is not EM field and photons are quasiparticles
 
jfy4 said:
Do you mean something like a coherent state?

I do not know what do you mean by coherent state, but I think is unrelated.
 
juanrga said:
In field-theoretic QED photons are the particles associated to the EM field. IN AAAD QED, there is not EM field and photons are quasiparticles
What is AAAD QED? Can you provide some explanations or references? How is this related to the original question which can be interpreted as a question regarding mainstream physics?
 
  • #10
tom.stoer said:
What is AAAD QED? Can you provide some explanations or references? How is this related to the original question which can be interpreted as a question regarding mainstream physics?

AAAD = Action-At-A-Distance

http://rmp.aps.org/abstract/RMP/v67/i1/p113_1

Because your answer is only a half of the modern picture...
 
  • #11
juanrga said:
AAAD = Action-At-A-Distance

http://rmp.aps.org/abstract/RMP/v67/i1/p113_1

Because your answer is only a half of the modern picture...
Sorry, my answer is approximately 99.999% of the modern picture; but what you propose is not 'the modern picture' at but definitely beyond standard (mainstream) physics. That does not mean that it's wrong, but it's definitely irrelevant for this thread and confusing for the OP.
 
  • #12
tom.stoer said:
Sorry, my answer is approximately 99.999% of the modern picture;

Agree with a systematic error of about a 75% in your number :rolleyes:.

tom.stoer said:
but what you propose is not 'the modern picture' at but definitely beyond standard (mainstream) physics.

Agree again with you, the American Physical Society, and Reviews of Modern Physics are well-known non-mainstream resources :wink:.

tom.stoer said:
That does not mean that it's wrong, but it's definitely irrelevant for this thread and confusing for the OP.

Yes, it is best to repeat semi-correct clichés, without being aware of modern avenues of research.
 
  • #14
juanrga said:
Agree again with you, the American Physical Society, and Reviews of Modern Physics are well-known non-mainstream resources :wink:.

RMP is especially devoted to "recent work of interest to all physicists, especially work at the frontiers of physics" as the APS states. As such it is indeed also aiming at non-mainstream positions. For a RMP, 18 indexed citations in 16 years also mean more or less that the topic is certainly not mainstream.

The stuff by Hoyle and Narlikar follows Wheeler's and Feynman's absorber theory and aims at steady-state cosmology which is in any way far from mainstream. It is somewhat correct physics (although difficulties with the microwave background given by WMAP results arise which might, however, be settled), but definitely not mainstream.
 

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