Scaling, scattering, and blackbody radiation in classical physics

Abstract

Here we discuss blackbody radiation within the context of classical theory. We note that nonrelativistic classical mechanics and relativistic classical electrodynamics have contrasting scaling symmetries which influence the scattering of radiation. Also, nonrelativistic mechanical systems can be accurately combined with relativistic electromagnetic radiation only provided the nonrelativistic mechanical systems are the low-velocity limits of fully relativistic systems. Application of the no-interaction theorem for relativistic systems limits the scattering mechanical systems for thermal radiation to relativistic classical electrodynamic systems, which involve the Coulomb potential. Whereas the naive use of nonrelativistic scatterers or nonrelativistic classical statistical mechanics leads to the Rayleigh-Jeans spectrum, the use of fully relativistic scatterers leads to the Planck spectrum for blackbody radiation within classical physics.

Testing Quantum Coherence in Stochastic Electrodynamics with Squeezed Schrödinger Cat States

“…While the zero-point electromagnetic field only introduces small radiative corrections to nonrelativistic QM, such as Lamb shifts, it drastically changes the particle dynamics in classical mechanics and leads to the reproduction of QM effects in some classical systems [6][7][8][9][11][12][13]18]. Our work aimed to investigate to what extent such a classical theory can reproduce QM features by comparing results obtained from SED, Equation (9), with those obtained from the QM Hamiltonian, Equation (8).…”

“…Studies of SED harmonic systems have found many examples that are in exact agreement with QM. These include the retarded van der Waals force [6], ground state distribution of harmonic oscillators [7,8], Landau diamagnetism [9,10], Planck spectrum of blackbody radiation [11,12], and Debye specific-heat law for solids [13]. Numerical studies of hydrogen have given some qualitative features [14,15] but have not led to a clear success [16,17].…”

M. Planck and History of the Discovery of the Quanta of the Heat Radiation

“…Эта квантовая гипотеза М. Планка оказалась принципиально новой, и можно сказать, что она преобразила физику ХХ века, направив её в русло развития квантовой теории и открыв новую физическую эпоху. Различные аспекты открытия М. Планка рассмотрены в последних иссле-дованиях спектра теплового излучения [6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”