Quantum Electromagnetic Field

See Also The "Texas Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics" For A Broader View Of The Subject At: http://www.johnkharms.com/texas.htm . Also View The Neutrino / Photon Hole Hypothesis At: http://www.johnkharms.com/neutrino-holes.htm .

The Unification Of Radiation With Matter

A Quantum Electromagnetic Field Proposal

Young's Two-Slit Experiment And Feynman's Sum-Over-Histories Concept Explained?

An Actual Reason Proposed For Quantum Mechanical Probabilities

Are Photons "Real" Before They Are Observed?

By: John K. Harms

Email: harmsjk3@earthlink.net

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Addition: December 2004

Abstract:

This model proposes a "wave" picture of reality. In-essence, the model unifies matter with radiation via waves of space and in the process rewrites quantum mechanics in a fundamental way. The idea graphically demonstrates that the relationship of matter with radiation waves appears to be that they are both (as space is) electromagnetic in nature, and also precisely out-of-phase with each other. Hence, a cancellation of the waves can occur when their frequencies match. A superior method of picturing this relationship may be provided by simple additions to the conventional Maxwellian electromagnetic theory. An image of these modifications as well as the space-grid is provided within the text. This picture of the electromagnetic field (what the author calls the "space-grid") has consequences also for Young's quite famous two-slit experiment. This experiment is discussed with use of an image in the latter parts of the text. Going against convention, the author pictures the electric and magnetic vectors present in the electromagnetic field as being composed of opposites. Thus, in the author's viewpoint of waves, a photon is coupled with its opposite; a photon hole, and matter is paired with its opposite; antimatter. Matter is composed of photon holes at the Higg's frequencies (as seen in the author's other texts) and antimatter of photons. While a photon hole as matter has a negative attraction (or ordinary gravitation), antimatter must have (in this picture) a positive repulsive effect; or antigravity. This is the strongest (and possibly also a testable) prediction of this model. Moreover, photon holes as massless aspects of the electromagnetic wave are emitted along with massless photons during photon emission and matter/antimatter (with mass) are both present in all electromagnetic matter waves. Hence, what we presently understand to be the wavelike behavior of both radiation and matter is the interaction of particles with their mirror-image opposites. That particles fly somewhat randomly through space essentially gives a definitive reason for the probabilities associated with the quantum theory. This idea is demonstrated in greater detail by a less-conventional explanation of the two-slit experiment, an experiment not explained well in the author's opinion by quantum mechanics. Also, the proposal is put forth that there are no photons until they are detected. This idea is elaborated upon within the text. Mirror images opposites are pictured as opposites in time-direction, mass/energy, spin-polarization and wave-phase. Finally, it is possible with this model to explain Feynman's beautifully-conceived (and extremely powerful) sum-over-histories approach to quantum mechanics in a reasonable manner. That reasonable explanation is attempted within this text. The consequences of this model are discussed in the conclusion.

Key Words: Particles, Waves, Unification, Two-Slit Experiment, Electromagnetic Field, Space-Grid, Opposites, Antimatter, Antigravity, Zero-Point, Quantum Mechanics, Schrodinger, Feynman, Sum-Over-Histories, Photons

Introduction

Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light has withstood the test of time. There is no doubt that light is an electromagnetic disturbance, an oscillation of the electromagnetic field vectors due to the vibration of a charged particle. When a charged particle such as an electron vibrates up and down in-space, there is an apparent effect upon the space around the charge.

But, what precisely is it in space that is doing the oscillating? Thus, what actually is the electromagnetic field? Moreover, is there anything in-addition to the electric and magnetic field flux that are the components of this oscillation? Can there somehow be a deeper description and a further understanding of these vector components that compose the field itself? In addition, within the field itself, what is the relationship of electric and magnetic flux with the photon? Indeed most importantly, what is the relationship between a matter wave and a wave of radiation? Can there be a somewhat deeper probe into a "quantum" understanding of these questions?

These questions, plus an explanation of Young's two-slit experiment, are some of the issues addressed by this text. This work combines the ideas in the author's previous papers in a single encompassing unifying description of the electromagnetic field. Essentially, this is a "wave" description that unifies what we think of as matter, with what we think of as radiation.

This model suggests in-essence that both matter and radiation are identical electromagnetic phenomena, but (as waves) precisely out-of-phase with each other. This phase difference may grant matter mass i.e., the Higg's mechanism, whilst radiation is essentially massless.

In addition, a somewhat different explanation of Young's two-slit experiment is offered, a description that may help to solve the riddle of the relationship of waves with particles and particles with waves in the context of the electromagnetic field. In this viewpoint, waves are pictured as opposite particles interacting with each other. The probabilistic Schrodinger wave-equation is of a statistical nature because the interactions of particles with their cancellation opposites (as they fly through space) align themselves giving the appearance of a wavelike system.

Hence, what we see as a probabilistic wave, are only opposite particles randomly interacting with each other--almost completely absent in one place and canceling-out in other regions. Quantum mechanical probabilities, therefore, have a definitive reason. But, it may be the case that we have only waves until actualization (or measurement) when photons arise. These ideas will be explored.

Furthermore, if matter (as is proposed by the author's other work) is a composite structure of photon holes, then can antimatter be the opposite; composed of photons! If so, can this picture of antimatter offer an explanation of its rarity in the Cosmos? Additionally, if gravity (in the author's other work) logically follows from matter as photon hole composite structures (or radiation voids), can it be deduced that antimatter (as strictly of a photon composition) has negative or antigravity. The author believes so.

The author hopes to answer all these questions and more within this text.

The Electromagnetic Field As An Integral Aspect Of Space--The Space-Grid

It can be understood that what the author is calling the space-grid is equivalent for all intents and purposes to the electromagnetic field. For convenience, these two terms will be used interchangeably within the text.

One cannot actually discuss the electromagnetic field apart from space itself. Thus, if there were no space in the Universe, neither could there be an electromagnetic field. It, therefore, must be the case that the electromagnetic field is an integral aspect of space itself. The author has chosen to call the electromagnetic field, for reasons that will be described below, the "space-grid". The space-grid can be pictured as the following:

The space-grid is a type of space-foam composed of ordinary photons (just passing by) with the photon holes of the more massive stationary-type (as shown above) associated with matter. Hence, these massive photon holes have inertial effects. Note that only two (of a probable infinite number) of the cells of the foam continuum are represented in the above image. These photon holes are connected to each other and are essentially quantum-sized microscopic subtractions of energy from the prevailing background of photonic energy. The grid, therefore, arises from the absence of photons.

This forms a grid-like structure (composed of holes) that can be bent (or warped) by electric, magnetic or even gravitational fields. Gravitational fields are essentially compression's of this space-grid at particular frequencies. See the "GTR" text at the link below for more about the gravitational model and quantum space. Moreover, as is discussed in other texts, each of these grids operates at a slightly different frequency, so although they do overlap each other, there is little interference between gravity, electric and magnetic forces. Hence, different forces operate at different frequencies of space vibrations.

As shown above, the space-grid is composed of the more stationary massive photon holes of certain energies. These holes are connected-together and held in-place largely by electromagnetic force-lines which are primarily strings of holes linked end to end at particular frequencies. This forms a kind of grid-like web of space, analogous in the natural world to crystalline structures of solid matter. When a charged particle is present in a region of space, the photon holes in the space-grid align themselves end to end forming the force-lines outward from a positive charge and ending on a negative one.

When a charged particle composed of the constituent photon holes of an identical energy is brought into vibration, so is the space-grid. Radiation is fundamentally the vibrations of the space-grid. Hence, what we call charge is actually similar photon hole energies in matter creating oscillations in the identical hole energies of space. Space, thus, is composed of the same "materials" (although vastly less dense) as matter is. Space, therefore, has mass (and inertia). In other texts, this can be understood also to be a description of dark matter.

Photon holes are places in-space on the quantum level where photons once were. As shown in the image below, whenever an ordinary photon is emitted, so is a photon hole. These types of holes, however, are of the more mobile massless variety and they generally accompany massless photons as part of the characteristic of electromagnetic waves. These types of massless photon holes may yield the perception of darkness. See the "Photon Hole Darkness Hypothesis" for further details at the link below.

Ordinary photons and photon holes (darkness quanta) are the quanta of the wave's own vibrations and such quanta have no mass or inertial effects. Thus, these are the other type of photon holes, the massless variety associated with photons. In quantum mechanics, (as stated above) what we call the wave-aspect of a photon is actually due to the interactions of photons with their accompanying photon holes. More about this in the subsequent two-slit experiment section.

The space-grid, similar to the electromagnetic field conception of James C. Maxwell, has vector components. Similar again to the electromagnetic field, not only does the grid have electric and magnetic components oscillating at roughly right angles to each other, but also a somewhat more subtle and deeper structure that explains much about the relationship of photons, photon holes, matter and antimatter.

Work on symmetrical studies up to this point has granted the author the insights required to describe the structural framework of the electromagnetic field. To follow, is what the author has uncovered concerning this subject.

The Components Of The Space-Grid i.e., The Electromagnetic Field

The space-grid in the image above is again composed at the microscopic level of minute photon holes held in-place by force-lines (strings of other photon holes--darkness quanta) providing a needed distance between the various holes--a kind of web-like structure. Not only is this the essence of electromagnetic field, but also of space itself. When a charged particle oscillates, the electric and magnetic components of this grid are set into motion. This can be pictured as the following:

Note that the "X" axis is the direction of motion of the wave through space and the "Y" axis is the "electric" direction and has "Photon & Antimatter" at the top and "Photon Holes & Matter" at the bottom. The "Z" axis is the "magnetic" direction with "Photons & Antimatter" toward the upper left-hand side and "Photon Holes & Matter" at the lower-right side of the image.

A point worthy of note is that this model differs from that of Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light because this model proposes that opposites i.e., photons verses photon holes; matter verses antimatter, are present in the wave structure of the grid. So, there is a constant fluctuation of the grid about the zero-point, a point which separates the mirror opposites. At the zero-point, the field fluctuation is essentially zero.

The zero-point defines the imaginary-line in the electromagnetic wave at-which the time-direction, mass/energy, wave-phase and particle spin all swap (or change) directions. The author's other work suggests also that at the zero fluctuation point, the vacuum conditions are ideal for wormholes through space. In fact, a wormhole might indeed be defined as a zero-fluctuation of the space-grid. Generally, however, zero does not exist for long because the grid is in a constant oscillation once it is disturbed.

Notice in the above image (if one can visualize these vectors set into motion) that when a disturbance of the grid (field) takes place, the magnetic Photon & Antimatter flux vector will be up at the same time as is the other electric Photons & Antimatter vector. If viewed from a stationary point on the wave, when the wave oscillates (cycles) past center again, the electric Matter & Photon Hole vector will coincide with the magnetic Matter & Photon Hole vector. So, in the image above, what new information does all this motion of the field give us?

Several conclusions can be drawn from this proposal:

1) Matter is composed of photon holes (the massive type), the primary reason that they occur together in the image above. This idea has been extended in the author's other work. See "Matter As Photon Holes" text at the link below. Additionally, antimatter and ordinary photons (the massive type) must be closely related. It is proposed by this text that antimatter is a composite structure of ordinary photons, the reason (similar to matter and photon holes) that antimatter and photons both occur together in the image above. Experiments have demonstrated that it is possible to slow a photon down to a relative halt. This is only possible because the photon has now been given mass and inertia by the Higgs mechanism. This is a prediction of this model. Antimatter is composed of these massive photons. Since these photons are relatively rare, so then is antimatter.

Antimatter is also rare in the Cosmos because the massive photons that might compose it are on the whole unstable. Positive radiation pressure may act to push the particles apart instead of aiding new particle generation. Although some antimatter can be fabricated in accelerators or found in cosmic ray showers, it is relatively rare elsewhere in the Universe. Again, the massive photons necessary are also rare. In addition, when an annihilation with matter does take place, antimatter annihilation yields photons when the particle structure collapses (freeing-up the energy). Antimatter, therefore, has (similar to photons) positive energy, whilst ordinary matter (believe it or not) is composed of negative mass and energy! Or, viewed mathematically as: - E = - mc^2. See the "Antimatter" text at the link below for more information.

2) Time must oscillate back and forth across the space-grid. Photon holes are backward-in-time photons; antimatter is backward-in-time matter. It is notable that while a photon is in its forward-in-time mode, its partner (at the same moment) antimatter is in its backward-in-time mode. Moreover, a backward-in-time photon hole simultaneously is joined with ordinary matter which must be a forward-in-time entity.

3) The relationship between photons and the electromagnetic field can be understood from the image above. Since both magnetic and electric photon vectors are up during the same time interval, as the wave travels at the speed of the wave (c) on down-the-line to its eventual destination point, the photons travel at the speed of the wave. This is what is observed. It is notable that the holes on the bottom end of the graph act in an identical fashion. They travel at the speed of the wave also.

In this description, both the photons and the holes, however, may be products of the grid's own imbalance (and oscillation), meaning that the same photons (and photon holes also) that were emitted by a glowing body may not be that which arrive at the final point of absorption! The photons, which may number in the millions or more in a single average electromagnetic wave upward disturbance, may, therefore, be products of the field's own disturbance or displacement (arising out of the zero-point). This happens when that particular vector is up (for photons) or down (for holes). It is worthy of note that photons are produced as both magnetic and electric entities simultaneously.

The author suspects that a photon is actually some combination thereof, linking electric and magnetic vectors that are both up at the same interval in the photon direction. Except for being time-reversed opposites, there can be no difference between this description for photons and that for photon holes. Moreover, the longer-wavelength waves produce lower-energy photons from the zero-point and the shorter-wavelengths fabricate the higher energies i.e., E = hf. A higher amplitude wave simply equals a greater number of photons fabricated out of a given displacement about the zero-point and of the same photon energy as a lower amplitude wave of an identical wavelength. Thus, a greater amplitude simply fabricates more photons, but the quanta are of the same energy as is a lesser amplitude. Therefore, all waves of the same wavelength produce photons of an identical energy. This is the actual meaning of Planck's (and Einstein's) E = hf.

4) Important Point: Photon holes must, therefore, accompany all outgoing photons. Each photon, thus, has a photon hole partner in the same wave train. A photon is not, as is now believed, its own antiparticle; a photon's antiparticle is the photon hole!--a backward-in-time photon. A massless photon hole can be understood to be a darkness photon. These waves of photons and holes occur at a wide variety of energies (and frequencies) and only cancel-out when a photon meets a hole of precisely identical but opposite energy. Fundamentally, this is what takes place in the two-slit experiment. More about this in the subsequent two-slit experiment section. See also the "Photon Emission" text at the link below.

5) Also Important To Note: When one grid-wave is precisely out-of-phase with another and of the same frequency, one wave will be a matter wave, whilst the other will be a wave of radiation (and also vice versa). Thus, matter and radiation are precisely out-of-phase with each other and on-opposite ends outward from the zero-point. This may be related to the phase properties of the Higg's mechanism--radiation is massless, matter is not. This is in exact agreement with the findings in the author's previous works on color, gravity and particle decay. See each of these ideas in their respective texts at the links below. Hence, this electromagnetic theory describes not only radiation, but also matter waves at the same time!--a type of unification.

So, this model is not only a graphical description of radiation waves, but also of matter waves. This amounts in-essence to a unification of matter with radiation (once the properties of the Higg's mechanism is taken into account). Since it was the author's proposal in previous works that matter is composed of photon hole constituents, one can now understand this idea in the context of waves as well! Therefore, matter waves are primarily an electromagnetic phenomenon; and precisely out-of-phase with ordinary radiation. When these the two opposite waves do meet each other and they are of identical wavelengths, they can cancel (or dampen) each other.

Now, wait a minute, how can radiation which travels largely at the speed of light be identical (except for its phase) to a piece of matter which is always confined to below light speed?

The answer (as stated previously) is that the out-of-phase electromagnetic wave must be compatible with the mechanism that assigns mass to particles. Physicists presently have a name for this mechanism; it's called the "Higg's fields" (or the "Higg's mechanism"). The phase of matter must, therefore, be compatible with (and overlap) the Higgs fields; the method by which matter acquires mass, giving it inertia confining it forever to below the speed of light. However, without inertia and mass, particles have no such limitations concerning their velocity. Hence, it is predicted that out-of-phase radiation (matter as defined by this text) is in-compliance with the Higg's or a similar mechanism; how particles acquire their mass. Hence, the phase of ordinary matter is compatible with Higgs; radiation is not.

If one has followed the discussion up to this point, it can be understood that in the context of matter that this model is primarily a "wave" picture of reality, whilst the "Matter As Photon Holes" text (available at the link below) is largely a "particle" description of matter. Hopefully, this wave model communicates clearly the author's views on the intimate connection (and relationship) between the wave and particle pictures of both matter as well as radiation. Note that this wave picture relates both wave and particle under one unified system.

The two-slit experiment demonstrates this intimate relationship.

Young's Two-Slit Experiment

That light is a wavelike phenomenon was first proposed in Holland by Christian Huygens in 1670. The central supporting experiment in-favor of Huygen's model was demonstrated somewhat later by the Englishmen Thomas Young in 1801, in what came to be called the two-slit experiment. The two-slit experiment can be pictured as the following:

Notice above, an image of a partition wall with two-slits in it with a blank screen detector at one end. If a light beam (or similarly, a beam of electrons) is emitted at one end (as shown above) and they pass through the two-slits, a characteristic pattern will be generated called an interference pattern that will appear on the screen (as seen in the "face-on" view above). It is notable that the same pattern will occur even when the particles are emitted one at a time.

In quantum mechanics, the probabilistic Schrodinger wave-equation describes well the interference pattern that will occur, without giving any explanation as to any type of process (the inherent weaknesses of a purely mathematical theory). The author believes that there must be a physical process taking place in the region in front of the screen that creates the interference patterns.

For example, the characteristic pattern occurs on the screen because a photon goes through one slit while the opposite of a photon (a photon hole) goes through the other. Surprisingly, this can also be viewed as a photon hole coming from the screen back through the hole to the source--or backward-in-time.

In the case of matter, matter (such as an electron) travels through one slit, while antimatter (a positron) enters the other. It can be demonstrated that if one slit is covered, the interference pattern will also be destroyed. So, it must be the case that each particle of light or matter needs its opposite to tag along in order for there to be an interference pattern.

Let us examine the experiment in-terms of photons and photon holes (although electrons and positrons are an absolutely identical situation!). In the above image, all the letters labeled "A" are in regions where a greater quantity of photons land on-average, whereas the letters labeled "B" are regions where there is on-average an absence of photon impacts. Strange as this may seem, it may be the case that there are not more photons at A as in-comparison to B, but there is a lesser quantity of holes that exist in the space just in-front of A, compared to that of B. In the space just in-front of B is a region where there is a relatively greater chance of the cancellation of photons with holes, hence, there are fewer actual impacts at B. It is not impossible for a photon to land at B and, thus, avoid cancellation, but the odds of photon cancellation by an its partner hole are vastly increased at B.

On the other hand, at A, there are relatively fewer holes of an identical energy present in the space just in-front of A, thus, photons tend to get through to the screen at that point and become detected (actualized). So, one can now understand that the Schrodinger wave-equation has a definitive reason why it must be inherently probabilistic. If one assumes that the electromagnetic waves are composed of their opposites which can interact as they fly through space, what once appeared to be purely a bookkeeping operation (the Schrodinger wave equation), now has a reasonable (and even more important a physical) explanation. Hence, there is a physical mechanism taking place here in the space just in-front of the screen detector!

Stephen Hawking's statement that an electron or photon must be passing through both slits at once can only be true if one adopts a model of waves where there is only one type of particle that exists in the wave. Hence, this one particle must be interfering with itself by Hawking's false suggestion of a single particle passing through both slits at once (Hawking, 1996).

Technically speaking, how can a single particle interfere with itself? The particle must be out-of-phase (and/or of opposite spin and direction-in-time) with itself and that is precisely what the author is describing in this text. But, that can only be true if a particle's opposite is tagging along with the particle to cancel it at places in-space where interference tends to occur. If it assumed that there are two types of particles (and not only one) and these particles are necessarily opposites that may cancel-out with each other, then the wave behavior of matter can be understood in-terms of particle cancellations or a lack thereof.

So, why (in the case of the electron) don't we detect positrons as they are present in the same wave-front along with the electrons? The answer is that, despite the fact that a positron is present as part of the matter wave, antimatter only rarely becomes actualized into particles because it (as mentioned earlier) is inherently unstable as it is composed of massive photons. These are rare in nature. In addition, even if they were available, photons also largely repel each other due to a positive radiation pressure between the photons, so they do not form into positron particles at the screen detector.

Therefore, in the case of single photons passing through the slits, a photon hole accompanies the photon which the photon may (by chance) fall into and create the effect. It has been postulated by other physicists in the "Many Universe's" interpretation of quantum mechanics that the photon's partner (in this model a photon hole) exists in a completely different Universe and, therefore, cannot be seen. However, this same lack of visibility would also be true of a photon hole and, perhaps, another Universe would not be required simply for the hole to exist. Or, perhaps, a photon hole essentially is a visitor from another separate Universe, however, the author personally does not favor (or believe in) this hypothesis.

Feynman's Sum-Over-Histories Explained?

The genius of Richard P. Feynman was that he approached physics by both unique and symmetrical methodologies. One of Feynman's greatest achievements was his method of conceptualizing quantum mechanics utilizing path-integrals; an approach that Feynman called "sum-over-histories". In the author's opinion, the sum-over-histories approach to the quantum theory is a much more accurate account of the actual "paths" of the quantum particles in space.

While the Schrodinger wave-equation in-general yields the same results to experiments as does the sum-over-histories approach, the author finds the Schrodinger conception much-less visually compelling and elegant. The author will go on record here as saying that the traditional Schrodinger approach (despite its experimental accuracy) is conceptually incorrect and that the Feynman idea is much closer to being the actual case.

In the author's mind, the Schrodinger approach to calculating the wave-equation is purely a mathematical theory to describe the results of experiments. It, therefore, is (physically speaking) weaker than Feynman's theory. The sum-over-histories theory is a visually-approached model that is based fundamentally on Feynman's symmetrical logic; his deep desire for elegance. He indeed found elegance in sum-over-histories. Sum-over-histories, thus, better describes the actual events happening in space; the probable "pathways" of the particles. Hence, Feynman uncovered something very important about nature here. Therefore, the author will now utilize the sum-over-histories as a "jumping-off-point" for his version of the rationalization of quantum mechanics:

To briefly describe the sum-over-histories approach to quantum mechanics, the author will first display a quote by the physicist Freeman Dyson: "Thirty-one years ago, Dick Feynman told me about his "sum-over-histories" version of quantum mechanics. "The electron does anything it likes", he said, "it goes in any direction at any speed, forward or backward-in-time, however it likes, and then you add-up the amplitudes and it gives you the wave function." I said to him, "Your crazy". But he wasn't."

It is interesting to note that the backward-in-time particle that Feynman is describing can be understood as a hole, whether it be (in the author's view) a photon hole or in Paul Dirac's interpretation of electron holes--a positron. As discussed above, the author views these as integral aspects of all electromagnetic waves in space.

Stephen Hawking thought so much of Feynman's "sums" that has been trying to compute the wave function for the entire Universe with this method! Hawking describes the sum-over-histories as: a particle not having a single path or history in space-time, as it would in a classical, non-quantum theory. Instead, it is suppose to go from A to B by every possible path. With each path there are associated a couple of numbers: one represents the size of a wave (its amplitude) and the other represents the position in the cycle (i.e., whether it is at a crest or a trough--its phase). The probability of going from A to B is found by adding-up the waves for all the paths. In general, if one compares a set of neighboring paths, the phases or positions in the cycle will differ greatly. This means that the waves associated with these paths will almost exactly cancel each other out. However, for some sets of neighboring paths the phase will not vary much between paths. The waves for these paths will not cancel-out. Such paths correspond to Bohr's allowed orbits (Hawking, 1996).

The probability that a particle passes through some particular point is found by adding-up the waves associated with every possible history that passes through that point (Hawking, 1996). Based upon the "particle interacting with its opposite" approach to the electromagnetic field given by this text, it can be understood that the phase of the Feynman "sums" above represents the probability of a particle interacting with its opposite of an identical energy. Thus, when the Feynman sums are out-of-phase there is a high probability of the opposites canceling in space. Hence, it is much more rare on-average to actualize (detect) a particle on this "path".

On the other hand, when the sums are in-phase and the two wave crests reinforce each other, there may be (in the case of photons) fewer backward-in-time photon holes (or darkness particles) of an identical energy at that location in space; so it is more likely on-average to detect a photon at that location in space. The amplitude of the wave is a measure of the sheer numbers of photons (at a given photon energy and wavelength) that arise from the zero-point. A bigger amplitude also means more photon holes produced by the wave (to accompany and interact with the photons) as well.

It should be noted that the photons and holes all mix together in all directions in a 360 degree circle surrounding the zero-point. The particle "paths" that define the sum-over-histories are determined by the probabilities of where and when these photons and holes do interact. As mentioned earlier, there may be no actual particle "paths" from the point of emission to the point of absorption, but only the probabilities of finding and actualizing photons (the photon holes cannot be detected) in certain regions of space verses others. Hence, the photons and holes arise out of the zero-point fluctuations of the space-grid. The photons that exist on one point of the flux vector to the next (as the wave moves along), may be different. So, to say that photons "travel" may be technically incorrect. Thus, the wave may indeed travel, but not the individual photons.

If one insists that photons must travel, in the wave picture presented here, the photons might be considered as traveling in one direction whilst the photon holes come from the other direction. This has some consequences for electromagnetic waves and gravity. See the "Push-Pull" gravity model at the link below for further details.

As in the two-slit experiment in the last section, this sum-over-histories section can be pictured as particles (not waves) interacting with their opposites. Hence, what we believe to be wave characteristics are actually particles canceling or not canceling-out with their opposites with some probability for this interaction. Particle "paths" as well as interference fringes (in the previous section) can also be understood in this way.

The primary difference between this model and Feynman's purely wave description of the sum-over-histories is that this approach gives one a physical mechanism for what is taking place in space to define the particle "paths", whilst Feynman's traditional "sums" do not. Thus, in this model, there is a physical and "hands-on" mechanism behind quantum mechanical probabilities. Therefore, the probabilities exist in quantum theory because there must always be an uncertainty in the particles interacting with each other in space (for example, in photons canceling with photon holes) as they are continually created by the displacement of space.

Do Photons Exist Before A Measurement Is Made?

Added December 2004-- "Here, the author proposes that Feynman's sum-over-histories is equivalent to there simply being waves in space. This in the author view is an alternative view of the same situation. In the author opinion, these are precisely equivalent pictures. So, through the two-slit experiment, light exists only as waves, so to say there are photons flying through space at all is saying far too much. Thus, in this picture, one cannot even speak about "photons" flying through space, but only waves. The waves represent Kant's "noumenal" existence, whereas photons are essentially representative of the everyday "phenomenal" reality, the region where measurements (observations) can be made by experimenters.

So yes, we have only waves in space, but when these waves are measured in some way, for example, by us looking or listening to an electronic or other kind of detector, we see evidence of photons being present. Planck's equation for photons (E = hf), therefore, speaks only to this everyday phenomenal reality and not to the World of waves existing in space or through other transparent matter of some kind. Planck's equation does not address this World of the objects-in-themselves, the realm of the waves. This, we cannot ever know about experimentally (at least not at this point). This is why the subject of light is and will (probably) always be in some sense shrouded in mystery. That is, unless we can somehow transcend this material reality. In the future, who knows?

Hence, when we see interference patterns in the image above with any amount of photons hitting the screen, this may be because the wave field is somewhat strong (with many photons) or very weak (with fewer measured photons). Indeed, the amount of photons emitted from the photon gun matters very little. Why? Even with one photon emitted every few seconds, this is simply a weak wave field. So, a weak wave field actualizes fewer measured photons hitting the screen.

Again, we do not have photons flying through space, but only photons hitting the screen. And so, in the author's opinion, we cannot even speak about this kind of scenario since this may simply not be the case! In the pure noumenal reality, photons simply may not exist. But, in our reality, photons may not exist before they are observed."

Conclusion

This model amounts to a qualitative rewrite of quantum mechanics. It describes the relationship of photons to the electromagnetic space-grid; an opposite field of both photons and matter. The two-slit experiment is described in-terms of opposite particles interacting with each other showing interference patterns on a screen behind. That particles somewhat randomly fly through space impacting (and sometimes canceling-out) each other largely by chance combinations explains why this interaction must be probabilistic. This fact is further reinforced by the sum-over-histories description as well. Hence, the randomness associated with quantum mechanics and the wave equation has a definitive reason. The probable predictions of this model are as follows:

1) Antimatter is composed of "massive" photons. If so, such particles are rare (like antimatter) and must have a positive radiation pressure associated with them. Hence, in the author's picture of gravity, antimatter must, therefore, have antigravity. This may be a testable consequence of this model.

2) The Higg's fields (or similar mechanisms giving mass to matter particles) are compatible with out-of-phase electromagnetic waves; what the author has proposed to be characteristic of matter. Hence, matter has mass because there is an inherent compatibility with the Higgs or a similar type field. This must be related to either the frequencies or the phases of the matter particles. Shortly, Higg's research will be tested in particle accelerators and the cause of the mass of matter particles may be revealed.

3) Matter is out-of-phase radiation and vice versa. This is a fundamental theme in much of the author's other works.

4) Photon "holes" exist in the electromagnetic field, the opposite of photons. Similarly, antimatter exists along with matter in the electromagnetic field. See the "Space-Grid" image above.

5) Related to # 1 above, antimatter is rare in the Cosmos because the photons that might compose it are on the whole unstable. Positive radiation pressure may act to push the particles apart instead of aiding new particle fabrication. Although some antimatter can be fabricated in accelerators or found in cosmic ray showers, it appears to be relatively rare elsewhere in the Universe.

6) Particle paths may not be paths at all. They are the probabilities of actualizing particles in the electromagnetic field from one flux vector to the next. This can be understood as the probability of a particle interacting with its opposite; its opposite time-direction partner.

7) An equivalent picture would be that of waves in space that manifest themselves as photons only when a measurement is made by a detector. Thus, there are no photons in space. So, to even say this is a huge assumption, so we cannot speak about "photons flying along through space". This is analogous to Kant's noumenal and phenomenal realities, where the waves are noumenal and the measured photons are phenomenal in nature. The noumenal becomes phenomenal when we make an observation. The act of observation actualizes the reality of there being photons at all.

Relevant Links

Matter As Photon Holes (The "Particle" Picture Of Matter): http://www.johnkharms.com/matter.htm

The Photon Hole Darkness Hypothesis: http://www.johnkharms.com/darkhole.htm

Space: http://www.johnkharms.com/space.htm

Color: http://www.johnkharms.com/color.htm

Particle Decay: http://www.johnkharms.com/decay.htm

Gravity: http://www.johnkharms.com/gravitation.htm

The Push-Pull Gravity Model: http://www.johnkharms.com/gravityholes.htm

Quantum Space And General Relativity: http://www.johnkharms.com/GTR.htm

Photon Emission: http://www.johnkharms.com/photon.htm

Electricity And Magnetism: http://www.johnkharms.com/eandm.htm

Antimatter: http://www.johnkharms.com/antimatter.htm

The Higgs Fields: http://www.johnkharms.com/higgs.htm

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References

Feynman, R. P., 1963, The Feynman Lectures On Physics, Volume I, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc., Reading Massachusetts, 37-2 to 37-12

Hawking, S. W., 1996, A Brief History Of Time, Tenth Anniversary Edition, Bantam Books, New York, P. 59-61, 62, 138

Reader's Note: Proper References And/Or Acknowledgments To This Text Are Appreciated.