Monday, March 15, 2021

Which phenomena in QED are quantum, which classical?

There is a very easy way to determine which phenomena are "quantum" and which are classical.

If the formula does not depend on the Planck constant h, then the phenomenon is probably classical.

"Quantum" phenomena are wave phenomena which depend on the wavelength of the particle. The wavelength is determined by the Planck constant.

Let us evaluate which common phenomena are quantum and which classical:

1. Electron orbitals in hydrogen are quantum.

2. The electron spin and the Dirac equation magnetic moment are quantum. Zitterbewegung is quantum.

3. The anomalous magnetic moment correction factor to the Dirac equation value is classical, if we accept that the zitterbewegung circle radius is a quantum phenomenon determined by h.

4. The Lamb shift is classical, but the electron orbit itself is determined by h.

5. Coulomb scattering is classical.

6. The electron-positron annihilation cross section is classical.

7. Compton scattering is quantum. It depends on the wavelength of the photon.

8. Generation of radio waves by an accelerating large charge is classical, though the energy packet size is quantum.

9. Bremsstrahlung is at the low level classical like item 8, but the energy packet size dictates the output, and therefore bremsstrahlung is quantum.


Question. Coulomb scattering is classical, but standard QED believes that it is affected by vacuum polarization. Is the hypothetical vacuum polarization classical?

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