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Single Idea 20632

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 2. Electrodynamics / a. Electrodynamics ]

Full Idea

Dirac created quantum electrodynamics (QED): the universal electro-magnetic field can exist in discreet states of energy (with photons appearing and disappearing by energy excitations. This combined classical ideas, quantum theory and special relativity.

Gist of Idea

In QED, electro-magnetism exists in quantum states, emitting and absorbing electrons

Source

Frank Close (Theories of Everything [2017], 3 'Light!')

Book Ref

Close,Frank: 'Theories of Everything' [Profile Books 2017], p.56

A Reaction

Close says this is the theory of everything in atomic structure, but not in nuclei (which needs QCD and QFD). So if there are lots of other 'fields' (e.g. gravitational, weak, strong, Higgs), how do they all fit together? Do they talk to one another?

The 18 ideas from Frank Close

20625 Third Law: total order and minimum entropy only occurs at absolute zero [Close]
20626 Modern theories of matter are grounded in heat, work and energy [Close]
20629 Electro-magnetic waves travel at light speed - so light is electromagnetism! [Close]
20632 In QED, electro-magnetism exists in quantum states, emitting and absorbing electrons [Close]
20627 Electric fields have four basic laws (two by Gauss, one by Ampère, one by Faraday) [Close]
20630 Light isn't just emitted in quanta called photons - light is photons [Close]
20628 The electric and magnetic are tightly linked, and viewed according to your own motion [Close]
20631 Dirac showed how electrons conform to special relativity [Close]
20622 All motions are relative and ambiguous, but acceleration is the same in all inertial frames [Close]
20623 First Law: energy can change form, but is conserved overall [Close]
20624 Work degrades into heat, but not vice versa [Close]
20633 The Higgs field is an electroweak plasma - but we don't know what stuff it consists of [Close]
20635 The general relativity equations relate curvature in space-time to density of energy-momentum [Close]
20637 In general relativity the energy and momentum of photons subjects them to gravity [Close]
20641 Electrons get their mass by interaction with the Higgs field [Close]
20640 Space-time is indeterminate foam over short distances [Close]
20639 Quantum fields contain continual rapid creation and disappearance [Close]
20642 Photon exchange drives the electro-magnetic force [Close]