Does an Electron's Field Expand at c Upon Spontaneous Creation?

In summary, if an electron were to be spontaneously created at a point in space, its field would expand outward at the speed of light, regardless of frame of reference. This would violate conservation laws, but it is possible to create a dipole, which would also propagate changes in the electromagnetic field at the speed of light. More detailed explanations require mathematical understanding.
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idea2000
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If an electron were to be spontaneously created at a point somewhere in space, would the electron's field expand outwardly at the speed of light, regardless of frame, just like how a flash of light would expand outward at the speed of light, regardless of frame?
 
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An electron spontaneously being created somewhere would violate several conservation laws.
 
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how about pair production or an electron ejected from a nucleus? would the field expand outward at the speed of light, regardless of the frame of reference?
 
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idea2000 said:
how about pair production or an electron ejected from a nucleus? would the field expand outward at the speed of light, regardless of the frame of reference?
Yes. This would essentially be a small dipole antenna. The field from a dipole antenna is definitely known to propagate at the speed of light.
 
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Although just for to be sure... @idea2000 when you say "electron field" you mean the electromagnetic field of the two charged particles, right?
 
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idea2000 said:
If an electron were to be spontaneously created at a point somewhere in space, would the electron's field expand outwardly at the speed of light, regardless of frame, just like how a flash of light would expand outward at the speed of light, regardless of frame?

The best way of saying this is probably that classically, changes in the electromagnetic field in a vacuum propagate at "c". As other posters have mentioned, one cannot create charges without violating conservation laws, though one can create a dipole. The changes in the field when one creates the dipole propagate at "c", as do others sorts of changes in the electromagnetic field.

To get more detailed than these needs some math, but I'm not sure what level of math you'd be interested in and comfortable with.
 
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FAQ: Does an Electron's Field Expand at c Upon Spontaneous Creation?

What is the "electron field" and why does it expand?

The electron field is a fundamental physical field that permeates all of space and is responsible for the behavior of electrons. It expands because it is affected by the presence of charged particles, causing it to spread out and interact with other fields.

What does "c" represent in the phrase "electron field expands at c"?

"c" refers to the speed of light, which is a constant in the theory of relativity. This means that the expansion of the electron field occurs at the same speed as the speed of light.

How does the expansion of the electron field affect other particles?

The expansion of the electron field can affect other particles by influencing their behavior and interactions. For example, it can cause charged particles to repel or attract each other, depending on their charges and the strength of the field.

Is the expansion of the electron field a continuous process?

Yes, the expansion of the electron field is considered a continuous process. This means that it is constantly occurring and does not have a discrete beginning or end.

Are there any practical applications of understanding the expansion of the electron field?

Yes, understanding the expansion of the electron field is crucial in many scientific fields such as particle physics, astrophysics, and quantum mechanics. It allows us to better understand the behavior of particles and the fundamental laws of the universe.

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