High School What is a photon's structure composed of?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lighthouse1234
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Structure
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

A photon is fundamentally understood as a stable excitation or disturbance within the electromagnetic field. This concept clarifies that photons are not composed of traditional matter but rather represent quantized energy packets within this field. The discussion also highlights misconceptions regarding the relationship between electromagnetic fields and thermodynamics, emphasizing that Boltzmann's entropy does not serve as a basis for electromagnetic phenomena.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic fields and their properties
  • Familiarity with quantum mechanics and photon behavior
  • Knowledge of thermodynamics principles
  • Basic grasp of Boltzmann's entropy and its implications
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of excitations in quantum field theory
  • Explore the relationship between photons and the electromagnetic field
  • Study the principles of thermodynamics and their distinction from electromagnetic theory
  • Investigate Boltzmann's entropy and its relevance to statistical mechanics
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the fundamental nature of light and electromagnetic theory will benefit from this discussion.

lighthouse1234
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
I read that a photon is an electromagnetic field but how could that be since electromagnetic fields are based on electronic and thermodynamics.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
lighthouse1234 said:
electromagnetic fields are based on electronic and thermodynamics.
Electromagnetic fields are not based on thermodynamics. I am not sure what would lead you to believe that they are
 
Boltzmann's entropy
 
lighthouse1234 said:
Boltzmann's entropy
Boltzmann’s entropy is not the basis of EM
 
lighthouse1234 said:
What is a photon's structure composed of?
It is made of the purest, finest aether you can think of. :smile:

No, seriously, photons can be thought of as stable "excitations/disturbances" in the electromagnetic field.
 
lighthouse1234 said:
I read that a photon is an electromagnetic field but how could that be ...
Perhaps whoever wrote what you read was wrong; or, you misunderstood what you read; or, you never read it in the first place. How can anyone on here say which of those, if any, is true?
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes DaveE and topsquark
lighthouse1234 said:
I read
Where? Please give a specific reference.
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes topsquark, vanhees71 and Dale

Similar threads

Undergrad Is the photon field a vector field and a gauge field?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad The physical components in the electron double slit experiment
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
Undergrad How Do Radio Antennas Function in Quantum Mechanics?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
High School Project on pulsars/electromagnetic quantum field
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Graduate Two-electron Lagrangian in QED
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Can an electron in a magnetic field radiate a virtual photon?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad How can electrostatic fields be composed of photons?
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
Undergrad Larmor precession of an electron in a magnetic field?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School Is a photon an excitation of the electromagnetic field?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Graduate Why does a photon have a defined frequency but is also somewhat localized?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K