The Photon according to Einstein

Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2022     |     PP. 14-19      |     PDF (269 K)    |     Pub. Date: February 12, 2022
DOI: 10.54647/physics14403    83 Downloads     4940 Views  

Author(s)

Richard Oldani, Retired

Abstract
The primary content of this paper consists of direct quotes from Einstein, arguments about the nature of the photon from over 100 years ago that have been quietly ignored because they are not in conformance with interpretations of quantum mechanics according to the standard model. Although faulted for his disagreements with quantum theory, we show here that once again his intuitive reasoning, as derived from the fundamentals, is perfect. After carefully analyzing the foundations of quantum theory and electromagnetic wave theory during the years 1906 - 1909 he hypothesized that the photon’s structure is similar to that of an electron; a discrete entity with particle properties at its core surrounded by continuous fields that superpose linearly. By following his suggestions we are able to describe a field model that satisfies the requirements of the classical, relativistic, and quantum theories.

Keywords
photon, radiation, light, wave-particle duality, Maxwell's equations, quantum mechanics

Cite this paper
Richard Oldani, The Photon according to Einstein , SCIREA Journal of Physics. Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2022 | PP. 14-19. 10.54647/physics14403

References

[ 1 ] A. Einstein, “On the development of our views concerning the nature and constitution of radiation”, Phys Z 10 (1909): 817-825 (Doc 60) https://einsteinpapers.press.princeton.edu/vol2-trans/
[ 2 ] A. Einstein, “On the electrodynamics of moving bodies” Ann Phys 17 (1905). (Doc 23) https://einsteinpapers.press.princeton.edu/vol2-trans/
[ 3 ] A. Einstein, “Does the inertia of a body depend on its energy content?”, Ann Phys 18 (1905). (Doc 24) https://einsteinpapers.press.princeton.edu/vol2-trans/
[ 4 ] A. Einstein, “On a heuristic point of view concerning the production and transformation of light”, Ann Phys 17 (1905). (Doc14) https://einsteinpapers.press.princeton.edu/vol2-trans/
[ 5 ] Discussion, Phys Z 10 (1909), p. 825-6. (Doc 61) https://einsteinpapers.press.princeton.edu/vol2-trans/
[ 6 ] R. Oldani (IntechOpen, London, 2019). http://mts.intechopen.com/articles/show/title/lagrangian-quantum-mechanics-a-fully-relativistic-theory-of-atomic-structure
[ 7 ] R. Oldani (Intechopen, London, 2021) https://www.intechopen.com/books/quantum-chromodynamic/application-of-einstein-s-methods-in-a-quantum-theory-of-radiation
[ 8 ] R. Oldani, Phys Essays “Einstein on measurement theory: A heuristic point of view” (March 2022), in print
[ 9 ] R. Oldani, Phys Essays “Quantum gravity for dummies”, 34 1 (2021).