
TL;DR
This paper argues that the concept of photons as pseudo-particles in quantum electrodynamics is dangerous and that semi-classical theories, with proper corrections, provide more accurate descriptions of electromagnetic phenomena.
Contribution
It demonstrates that considering photons as small particles is misleading and advocates for the use of semi-classical theory with corrected errors for better physical understanding.
Findings
Quantum electrodynamics' photon concept is problematic.
Semi-classical theory with corrections is more accurate.
Astrophysical phenomena explained without photon counting.
Abstract
Quantum electrodynamics corrects miscalculations of classical electrodynamics, but by introducing the pseudo-particle "photon" it is the source of errors whose practical consequences are serious. Thus W. E. Lamb disadvises the use of the word "photon" in an article whose this text takes the title. The purpose of this paper is neither a compilation, nor a critique of Lamb's paper: It adds arguments and applications to show that the use of this concept is dangerous while the semi-classical theory is always right provided that common errors are corrected: in particular, the classical field of electromagnetic energy is often, wrongly, considered as linear, so that Bohr's electron falls on the nucleus and photon counting is false. Using absolute energies and radiances avoids doing these errors. Quantum electrodynamics quantizes "normal modes" chosen arbitrarily among the infinity of sets of…
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Taxonomy
TopicsPhotonic and Optical Devices · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Quantum Information and Cryptography
