The discussion centers on the nature of photons and their relationship with electromagnetic (EM) fields. Participants assert that photons only exist when emitted or absorbed, interacting with matter, and do not exist in a state of free travel through the EM field. The conversation also touches on the observer-dependent characteristics of electric and magnetic fields, emphasizing that both fields are components of a unified electromagnetic field. Key references include the duality of electric and magnetic fields and the implications of quantum mechanics on the behavior of photons.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, students of electromagnetism, quantum mechanics enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the fundamental nature of light and electromagnetic interactions.
Ok, but to have pure states you have to prepare the photons, so the property "to have a well defined spin component in one direction" cannot be referred to the microscopic object "photon" only, but to the entire experimental setting.Jonathan Scott said:I disagree; pure states of polarization can definitely be used to transmit information. QM interpretations only become relevant when dealing with entangled superposed states.