Re: Photons

PD wrote:
On Aug 9, 3:52 am, John Kennaugh
<J...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


That is sloppy thinking. In classical electrodynamics circa Maxwell a
'field' was a physical stress in the aether. Action-at-a-distance force
between charges was transferred via this stress and the stress could
propagate through the aether at c in the form of light. Despite the fact
that relativity owes its existence to Einstein's belief in some sort of
aether, the concept of the aether has become highly unfashionable
resulting in the almost universal acceptance of the 'no aether
doctrine'. The fallout of this is that while physicists still talk in
terms of 'fields' the word no longer has a meaning.

It is true that the term "field" means something different than it
originally did. That does not mean that it is now without meaning.

I would be obliged if you would explain what meaning it now has.



PD



--
John Kennaugh

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Photons
    ... 'field' was a physical stress in the aether. ... propagate through the aether at c in the form of light. ... That does not mean that it is now without meaning. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Where physics went wrong
    ... If there is no aether then clearly a field cannot ... be a stress in the aether - but then in no experiment has a field been ... The electromagnetic fields are not states of a medium #, and are not bound down to any bearer, but they are independent realities which are not reducible to anything else, exactly like the atoms of ponderable matter. ... Modern physics treats a field as if it were physically real but doesn't care what it consists of in physical terms. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Photons
    ... 'field' was a physical stress in the aether. ... propagate through the aether at c in the form of light. ... The fallout of this is that while physicists still talk in ... associated with each point in spacetime. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: Where physics went wrong
    ... Maxwell's equations are field equations. ... If there is no aether then clearly a field cannot ... be a stress in the aether - but then in no experiment has a field been ... it of other charges which may or may not be in motion w.r.t the first ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Re: The Earth is buoyant in the Aether
    ... this is called frame dragging and this is a gravitomagnetic effect ... We are discussing what causes the stress. ... And the displacement is caused by the stress. ... The earth displaces aether like a balloon displaces air. ...
    (sci.physics)