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You are wrong sir, observation is limited to the eyes, I think you are referring to detection which is distinguishable from observation.
Here again you talk about fields rather than photon absorption and emission, so according to you, [The two fields interfere and the result is that the incoming photon is altered.] scattering is where the incoming light (electromagnetic field) behaves like a wave and interacts with the electron; is altered by the interaction and scattered. Yet this is not what experiment shows occurs. The very definition of a field(s) is that its energies are diffuse and spread out , experiment has shown that every electron reaction with incoming light is with a definite quanta of energy that reacts (or not) with the electron. You go onto say that if the material of the substance on which the light is impinging is smooth ( relative to the size of the atom) reflection results, if the surface is rough (relative to the size of the atom) a more diffuse form of reflection results. The point is (AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FIELDS CANNOT DO ) is that every photon/electron reaction requires a definite quanta of energy. How then can you put forward a wave theory as an explanation? OR is that the whole point of your post namely that reflection and scattering involve wave phenomena while absorption and emission require particle phenomena ?
How does sight work, is it the wave or particle nature or light that transmits the information. How do the various frequencies of light prior to being reflected effect what we see? Since the perception of color depends on the firing of these three types of nerve cells, do you suppose that it is fair to assume that sight actually involves the absorption of photons and the resultant (very specific) energy and not mere interaction with a wave, since it has to result in the firing of nerve receptors, a wave would be diffuse, how would it convey the exact energy needed. If you disagree with this supposition please give your reasons. If on the other hand you agree with that statement, just look around, try and calculate how many things you are seeing and how many photons those objects might represent and explain why sight works with emission and absorption but that a different mechanism is needed ( electromagnetic fields) when talking about reflection and scattering.
But for Quantum Mechanics apparently not. Theories, some of them pretty flaky, thought up a hundred years ago, when classical physics had nothing better to offer are still strictly followed today, even though alternative theories are available. In fact today's Quantum Mechanics is as close to an aether theory as it is possible to get without actually saying it.
In giving explanations like : The electron is present as a cloud. Averaged over the cloud, the positive kinetic energy is half as big as the negative potential energy.More importantly, the cloud really is the state of the electron. It's not a picture of where some dot-like particle probably is. It isn't anywhere in particular. It also doesn't have any particular velocity. In a hydrogen atom, it's certainly not going in a circle. The cloud doesn't go anywhere at all. There's no reason for it to radiate.The world at a small scale cannot be put together out of anything like the pictures we're used to at a large scale.Quantum Mechanics seems to completely ignore the fact that an electron has mass, yet often tries to justify this view point on the grounds that the electron is a charged particle. So according to Quantum Mechanics a particle possessing mass can possess a diffused form and exist as a wave or cloud AND a mass less photon can be a particle. There is in reality no justification for eithjer statement except that at the time there seemed to be a need for this to be true.
The electron is present as a cloud.
Yes; that is a useful simplification of reality. Treating electrons as probability clouds results in simpler maths than models that dare to consider the paths of electrons around individual circuits of their orbits, even below the Planck time scale. Analogous models, i.e., models that are analogous to familiar mechanical systems, may offer a deeper and more psychologically satisfying reality. Some of us, who have not yet fully outgrown the "Why?" phase of our childhood development, are not fully satisfied with that electron cloud analogy. We need to know why the clouds is shaped as it is. Such quests for a deeper understanding, when not proven to have economic benefits, are considered frivolous, if not heretical, by all "serious" scientists. That has always been the case, hasn't it? Copernicus, Galileo, ....
On the subject of the multiple Dimensions arising from Schrodinger’s equation Max Born had this to say:“ We have two possibilities. Either we use waves in space of more than three dimensions…………..or we remain in three dimensional space, but give up the simple picture of the wave amplitude as an ordinary physical magnitude , and replace it with a purely mathematical concept into which we cannot enter.”
This is especially so when the Lamb shift has proven through solid, reproducible experimental evidence, the existence of virtual photons and especially when the emission and absorption of virtual particles automatically means that the need for an electron following the physical pattern of wave/particle duality no longer exists.
Virtual particles cannot and do not exist outside of quantum field theories like Quantum Electrodynamics. In general they are described as excitations of the underlying quantum fields that aren't stable enough to be real particles.
It is obvious that you do not read anything properly before replying.
I have stated that there is solid, verifiable and reproducible experimental evidence that 'virtual' particles do exist, in the form of the Lamb shift.
(You will be surprised to learn that until a very short time ago Quantum Mechanics supporters were claiming with equal fervour, that there were no such things as 'virtual' particles. )
That being so, how can you claim that virtual particles exist only in quantum mechanics ?
Or that they do not exist outside of the quantum field? This is like saying the moon can only be seen from your window!
You may claim that they are excitations of the underlying quantum fields. That doesn't mean that you are right.
It is perfectly reasonable to accept that there are really small interactions in the sub-atomic world that we cannot see or measure, and that being impossible to measure on our scale that they do not violate the conservation of energy laws.
This does not mean that they are evanescent waves or that they have to be evanescent waves. This will bring you full circle through the Schrodinger wave equation, to the question of how a wave, cloud or whatever, can absorb or emit a particle. Or does it emit a wave that turns into a particle. OR does this wave/particle entity have super powers that means it has to be neither and can interact with either ? Or that it is a particle when being measure and a wave when it is propagating. I repeat my Question WHY? WHY? WHY? when it is no longer necessary ?
Even more important and something that tells us a lot about what Quantum Mechanics is is the fact that if you except 'virtual' photons as being excitations of the field that the electron interacts with, then why is it still necessary to have the cloud theory. A dog in the manger is a veritable angel when compared to Quantum mechanics which just seems to want to hoard and hoard, everything it has ever thought of, even when thos ideas are obsolete.
No one that actually understands quantum field theory would ever make that claim. Also, theoretical understanding in science evolves over time. You cannot dismiss an entire domain of thought because it has gradually progressed through dedicated study and comparison to observation. To do so would be to deny the very concept of science itself and at that point the entire discussion becomes meaningless.
You cannot dismiss an entire domain of thought because it has gradually progressed through dedicated study and comparison to observation.
When one thing is made of something else that first thing can't exist without the second thing. Virtual particles are made from quantum fields and thus don't exist without quantum fields.
This a new theories forum so you can't relate everything back to quantum mechanics, saying things like , "Oh QM says it's not like that it's like this.". Immediately the whole concept of a New Theories forum becomes obsolete and it becomes instead a forum where Quantum Mechanics is literally forced down everyone's throats, regardless of any points or discrepancies that might be raised.
That is precisely why I am dismissing it, why have a wave/particle duality when there is no reason for it ,then again remember there is no reality in the sub-atomic world so how can you refer to it :
Look at this quote from QM once again:The electron is present as a cloud. Averaged over the cloud, the positive kinetic energy is half as big as the negative potential energy. More importantly, the cloud really is the state of the electron. It's not a picture of where some dot-like particle probably is. It isn't anywhere in particular. It also doesn't have any particular velocity. In a hydrogen atom, it's certainly not going in a circle. The cloud doesn't go anywhere at all. There's no reason for it to radiate. Firstly it is obvious that the whole raison d'etre of the 'electron as cloud' theory is because if it was not a cloud it would radiate energy and fall into the nucleus. Look in particular at the last sentence which is the justification: "There's no reason for it to radiate.". Well if the electron interacts with 'virtual' particles, whether they are fluctuations of the field or whatever there is an absolutely verifiable theory as to why it does not spiral into the nucleus, i.e., it mediates its energy through emission and absorption of 'virtual particles'. How come you now have two theories for why electrons do not fall into the nucleus? One because it interacts with 'virtual particles' and one because it is a wave or cloud? Notice I do not say , two reasons why electrons do not radiate, because the statement would not be supported by the facts. AND please do not try to brush this aside!
Look at the prejudice, first you are absolutely sure that the wave/particle duality has to be true because otherwise the electron would radiate away energy and fall into the nucleus , and then when a new discovery is made,namely 'virtual particles' you are equally certain that only the quantum mechanics theory of why they exist is true. How in the Big Bang do you account for the 100 or more fields that quantum mechanics postulate? Maybe each of these particles had its own associated field as a preordained prerequisite of the Big Bang? Your interpretation of QM sounds more like a h...'s a's the more I hear of it.