Quantized Excitation Spectrum of the Classical Harmonic Oscillator in Zero-Point Radiation

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that a classical harmonic oscillator in zero-point radiation exhibits a quantized excitation spectrum similar to quantum predictions, challenging the traditional view that classical theories cannot produce quantized energy levels.

Contribution

The paper shows through numerical simulation that classical electrodynamics with zero-point radiation can produce quantized energy spectra, bridging classical and quantum descriptions.

Findings

Classical harmonic oscillator exhibits quantized excitation spectrum

Results align with quantum harmonic oscillator energy levels

Challenges the notion that quantization is exclusive to quantum mechanics

Abstract

We report that upon excitation by a single pulse, the classical harmonic oscillator immersed in classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation, as described by random electrodynamics, exhibits a quantized excitation spectrum in agreement to that of the quantum harmonic oscillator. This numerical result is interesting in view of the generally accepted idea that classical theories do not support quantized energy spectra.