Physically, what do positive frequency modes represent?

jarod765
Messages
38
Reaction score
0
I know this is a basic question, but why are positive frequency modes so important when expanding a field operator. Furthermore, what do they represent?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
A mode with a positive (negative) frequency corresponds to a particle with positive (negative) energy. Obviously, in nature we only see particles with positive energy.
 
A positive frequency mode of a field operator represents the creation of a positive energy particle. A negative frequency mode of a field operator represents the annihilation of a positive energy antiparticle.
 
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. Towards the end of the first lecture for the Qiskit Global Summer School 2025, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Olivia Lanes (Global Lead, Content and Education IBM) stated... Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/quantum-entanglement-is-a-kinematic-fact-not-a-dynamical-effect/ by @RUTA
If we release an electron around a positively charged sphere, the initial state of electron is a linear combination of Hydrogen-like states. According to quantum mechanics, evolution of time would not change this initial state because the potential is time independent. However, classically we expect the electron to collide with the sphere. So, it seems that the quantum and classics predict different behaviours!
Back
Top