- #1
Jeff Root
- 76
- 6
Light is said to consist of photons or electromagnetic waves.
I'm not asking which view is correct, what conditions make one
view or the other more useful, or advantages and disadvantages
of each view. I am assuming the two views are compatible to
the extent that the wave character of light can be described
in quantum electrodynamics.
I'm also assuming that someone here can explain some aspects of
how quantum electrodynamics describes electromagnetic waves in
a way I can understand. Like, without calculus.
Electromagnetic waves are generally depicted as sine waves.
The carrier waves of artificial radio transmissions are usually
sine waves. Sine waves are a very common occurrance in nature,
due to harmonic oscillation. There are many ways harmonic
oscillation can arise naturally, so it would not be surprising
if electromagnetic waves are in fact sine waves.
I know, of course, that most light sources give a mixture of a
range of wavelengths/frequencies, so the waves are not coherent.
Even in monochromatic light, the waves aren't necessarily in
phase and with the same polarization.
But in general, for ordinary light sources...
Are electromagnetic waves sine waves?
If so, how was that determined?
If not, what are they?
If the answer is not known, why not?
If the answer depends, what does it depend on?
-- Jeff, in Minneapolis
I'm not asking which view is correct, what conditions make one
view or the other more useful, or advantages and disadvantages
of each view. I am assuming the two views are compatible to
the extent that the wave character of light can be described
in quantum electrodynamics.
I'm also assuming that someone here can explain some aspects of
how quantum electrodynamics describes electromagnetic waves in
a way I can understand. Like, without calculus.
Electromagnetic waves are generally depicted as sine waves.
The carrier waves of artificial radio transmissions are usually
sine waves. Sine waves are a very common occurrance in nature,
due to harmonic oscillation. There are many ways harmonic
oscillation can arise naturally, so it would not be surprising
if electromagnetic waves are in fact sine waves.
I know, of course, that most light sources give a mixture of a
range of wavelengths/frequencies, so the waves are not coherent.
Even in monochromatic light, the waves aren't necessarily in
phase and with the same polarization.
But in general, for ordinary light sources...
Are electromagnetic waves sine waves?
If so, how was that determined?
If not, what are they?
If the answer is not known, why not?
If the answer depends, what does it depend on?
-- Jeff, in Minneapolis