Compton Effect

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Misconceptions and False Expectations

It has been said that this website aims to “Unseat Einstein and quantum mechanics”. This is not true. The objective of this website was to forward an interpretation of how quantum systems interact within a framework principally of special relativity.

The idea that it is trying to unseat Einstein and quantum mechanics clearly contradicts its objectives and can only be based on a misconception of its content. I would ask you to please read it before jumping to conclusions about its nature.

It has also been criticised for not providing enough meat when analysing the dynamics of the Compton effect. The reason for this is the proper interval locality interpretation produces the same dynamics as quantum mechanics. The notion that PIL should create a different set of dynamics is a false expectation and is inconsistent with its basic objective of a new interpretation of quantum mechanics that is developed within the frame work of special relativity and in particular the Minkowski space-time continuum.

If dynamically proper interval locality is equivalent to quantum mechanics then why do we need a new interpretation? The answer is to create a single interpretation linking special relativity with quantum mechanics in a self-consistent way. Phenomena such as single photon interference and photon entanglement can be explained by proper interval locality without the inconsistencies inherent in other interpretations.

Perhaps we should regard proper interval locality as an interpretation of interpretations
As it provides insight into what is going say in the Copenhagen interpretation, the integral path interpretation, the absorber and transactional interpretations. And it also explains interference without the need to invoke multiple universes as well as providing the simplest, most elegant and beautiful explanation of how information is communicated around the universe.

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Conclusion

Compton effect can be explained by the proper interval locality interpretation since a spatially remote quantum system will deliver an identical impulse to that obtained in the particle interpretation. The Compton effect cannot in itself distinguish between the two theories.
The particle theory however cannot explain the wave nature of light. In proper interval locality theory, the wave-functions come from the self super-positioning of quantum systems via zero interval paths. (States of systems from different times in their history become super-positioned in places that are spatially remote from the “normally perceived” locations of the systems). Its is the ability to explain how energy is exchanged impulsively and describe the creation of the wave-function that controls where the impulses are likely to occur in space that makes proper interval locality the preferred theory.

Proper interval locality has a further advantage in that it predicts the violation of Bell’s inequality. Thus reconciling quantum mechanics and relativity and removing the mystery out of many seemingly bizarre and counter intuitive features of the physical world.

The important point to make with respect to
space-time mediated electromagnetism is the equivalence in the dynamics of the Compton effect resulting from a null interval strike from a remote quantum system and that calculated by regarding light as an independent particle. The compliance between QED and experimental verification is famous for its accuracy. It is therefore important that any new interpretation should not deviate dynamically significantly from QED. The new interpretion of The compton effect at a superficial level at least meets this requirement. Leaving us with the possibility of creating a self-consistent interpretation of electromagnetism without creating a system of dynamics which is going to deviate from the existing theory.

The new interpretation also allows for energy which may be containied within a spatially extensive quantum system to become entangled with other remote spatially extenxive systems. Allowing abrupted changes to the eigen values of interacting quantum systems. Helping us maybe able to understand how the quantum states of systems change?

The Compton Effect Revisited (IstDraft)

Introduction

This paper makes the case for electromagnetism being mediated by space-time, via zero interval paths (Proper Interval Locality). Impulses delivered by spatially remote quantum systems (atoms) are shown to be identical to those delivered by massless particles (photons). The results of the Compton effect cannot distinguish between photon or space-time mediation. “Proof” of space-time mediation comes from its ability to explain how diffraction and interference are produced. Wave theory cannot explain the Compton effect. The particle theory cannot explain interference. Space-time mediation explains both. (and allows the violation of Bell’s inequality whilst maintaining the integrity of relativity).

The Compton Effect and the Wave-Particle Duality of Light: -The Proper Interval Locality Interpretation

In part 1 of The Principle of Proper Interval Locality the idea of proper interval locality was introduced and its application was developed with respect to the to the interactions of quantum systems (Atoms/molecules), that is where the charged components are bound to the system.
Working with this restriction we were able to examine some of the characteristics of light, such as diffraction, interference and the so-called notion of entanglement. The website merely scratches the surface of optics. There is left the potential for many optical phenomena to be explained in terms of Proper Interval Locality. Hopefully, researchers will take the opportunity to use the principle of proper interval locality to describe what is going on at a fundamental level in this huge field.

The Website maintains that Proper interval locality is the causal foundation of all electromagnetic interactions therefore we must move on beyond where all the charged components are bound to the system. Good starting point is the Compton effect where we add a free electron to the account. But before examining the Compton effect from the perspective of Proper Interval Locality we shall briefly reiterate the basics of the principle .

The principle of Proper Interval Locality is based on the following observations: -

1. To fix an event in the world we require a four coordinate grid system, three dimensions of space and one of time. (The choice of coordinate reference frame is purely arbitrary but for flat-space time we normally choose a rectilinear inertial frame i.e. one which moves at a given speed)
2. For any inertial reference frame the speed of light is constant. (This restricts any linear transformations between reference frames to those of the Lorentz transformations with space-time being characterised by the Minkowski Metric.)
3. When quantum systems exchange energy, there is an associated frequency that is proportional to the difference between the systems’ energy before and after exchange.

Given observations 1 and 2 then it is possible for events that are separated in space and time to have zero separation in space-time. Part 1 argues that the simplest possible way energy can be exchanged between quantum systems is for it to pass directly between them via the zero interval paths. The energy passes as an impulse; but a for any donor the probability of where it is likely to find an absorber is determined by the associated wave coupled with all the zero interval paths existing between the donor system and the region of space where the interaction will occur.



In the past it seems as we had the choice between the world being local or non local but now we have the third way, proper interval locality, which is a less restricted form of locality but one which is consistent with special relativity.


The Compton Effect.

The Compton effect is supposed to be the most unambiguous manifestation of the corpuscular nature of light. The conventional view of the Compton effect is one where a ”photon” makes an elastic collision with an electron at rest. In the collision the photon loses part of its energy to the electron.

The Proper Interval Locality Interpretation

The principle of proper interval locality argues that electromagnetic radiation is neither o particle nor a wave. Instead energy is exchanged across zero interval paths. The new thinking says that excited quantum systems (donor atoms) can emit impulses of energy, which are immediately absorbed by spatially remote systems (absorber atoms). It is its structure that enables space-time to carry the impulses between quantum systems.
See the Definition of Proper Interval Locality. This solution removes the inconsistency caused when we try to visualise photons as having properties of both waves and particles and yet is fully consistent with observation. A photon does not have an independent existence outside the interacting quantum systems. In Part 1 we described it as a package of energy, which is initially in the donor system and then suddenly appears in the absorber system. The relative timing and location of the two events (The emission from the donor and the receipt by the absorber) will depend upon the total number of zero interval paths between the two interacting systems and internal quantum states of the interacting Systems..

This means what goes on inside a local atom may determine the probability waves governing interactions on the far side of the universe!

In the Compton effect the donor photonic energy is shared between the absorber system and the target electron.
The principle of proper interval locality argues that electromagnetic radiation is neither o particle nor a wave. Instead energy is exchanged across zero interval paths. The new thinking says that excited quantum systems (donor atoms) can emit impulses of energy, which are immediately absorbed by spatially remote systems (absorber atoms). It is its structure that enables space-time to carry the impulses between quantum systems.
See the Definition of Proper Interval Locality. This solution removes the inconsistency caused when we try to visualise photons as having properties of both waves and particles and yet is fully consistent with observation. A photon does not have an independent existence outside the interacting quantum systems. In Part 1 we described it as a package of energy, which is initially in the donor system and then suddenly appears in the absorber system. The relative timing and location of the two events (The emission from the donor and the receipt by the absorber) will depend upon the total number of zero interval paths between the two interacting systems and internal quantum states of the interacting Systems..

This means what goes on inside a local atom may determine the probability waves governing interactions on the far side of the universe!

In the Compton effect the donor photonic energy is shared between the absorber system and the target electron.

The Creation of the Electromagnetic Impulse

Proper Interval Locality provides the route by which quantum systems can interact directly with spatially remote systems. Observation substantiates the impulse character of the electromagnetic interaction but the actual location of where a donor atom will find will find an absorber is determined by the internal dynamics of the donor atom and the zero interval paths that communicate from the donor to the rest of the universe. See The Development of the Wave-Function of Light.

The total energy of an electron in an atom comprises of its potential energy in the coulomb field, the energy due to its radial motion and that associated with its angular motion. The total energy levels have discrete values; for the hydrogen atom we have: -
En = - 13.6/n2 eV n = 1,2,3 …..

Thus if we change n from the excited state 2 to the ground state 1, the atom’s energy abruptly changes from -3.4eV to –13.6 eV. This is emitted as impulse of 10.2 electron volts, this is called Lyman alpha radiation and has an apparent wavelength of 1206 Angstrom units.

In Proper Interval locality theory, this 10.2eV pulse must be absorbed by another quantum system(s), one(s) that is properly local to our hydrogen atom in space-time.
The idea that energy comes in discrete packages rather than waves is completely consistent with the idea that atoms can only possess definite energy levels and when the atomic energy level changes it does so abruptly. The quantum system must some how expel this energy. Nature therefore requires a mechanism to mediate the exchange of energies between quantum systems. There appear to be four options: -
1. Waves
2. Particles
3. Some exotic combination of wave and particles.
4. Electromagnetic radiation is mediated by space-time via zero interval paths.

The waves; we can rule out because they are not consistent with observations on experiments such as the Compton effect.

Particles alone can be ruled out because we commonly observe phenomena such as diffraction and interference that suggest there is some wave-like influence acting.

The wavicle is a manufactured article used to explain inconsistent sets of observations. The Compton effect contradicts the idea of light being a wave and the double slit experiment is in conflict with the concept of a particle. Light must possess characteristics of both?
Thus we give the photon both qualities but fail to explain the causal relation between these characteristics.

This leaves electromagnetism being mediated by the zero interval paths found in the metric of space-time (Proper Interval Locality). In this model energy is exchanged directly between quantum systems as quantized packets thus we have immediate consistency with the Compton effect. Where a donor system is likely to find an absorber system is dependent on the internal dynamics of the donor system and the zero interval paths that connect it to the rest of the universe. This mechanism (self super-positioning) generates for a donor wavelike patterns (throughout the universe) for the spatial distribution of the likelihood of where it will find an absorber system.
(See The Development of the Wave-Function of Light.)

The Proper Interval locality model provides a causally self-consistent description explaining both the impulse and wavelike characteristics seen in observations.


Now let us return to the Compton effect and the proper interval locality interpretation.

The momentum energy relationship, equation 6 is property of the bound quantum system therefore, a quantum system cannot, in isolation, interact with a free electron. It must also have a collaborating system involved to ensure that the laws of energy and momentum conservation are “simultaneously” maintained throughout the interaction. The donor, the free electron and the absorber must all be connected by zero interval paths when they interact.

Diagram 2 illustrates the situation.

The reference frame is at rest relative to the donor and absorber systems and the initial velocity of the target electron. Relative to this reference frame the donor and absorber world lines are drawn as solid lines the donor to the left and the absorber to the Right. The target electron is in the centre. The curved starred lines represent the world lines of the absorber and donor in terms of their proper interval to the point on the world line of the electron when it receives the impulse from the donor system.
Note the Proper interval loci are produced using a double transformation so that the reality of the interval is maintained for both space-like and time like intervals. See Visualising Proper Interval Locality

Distinguishing Between Electromagnetism Being Carried by Particles and Mediation by Space-Time

The Compton effect has been regarded as the most unambiguous evidence for light been formed of particles. But now we see the impulse received by the electron can also be delivered by a remote quantum system acting along zero interval paths between itself and the electron. The impulse delivered by a particle and that delivered by a quantum system are identical. The evidence presented by the Compton experiment cannot distinguish between the two competing theories. To make this distinction we must look to experiments that involve interference or diffraction. It is not possible to explain interference by regarding light as a particle as it is not possible to explain the Compton effect if light is regarded as a wave. In the past we have been forced into accepting we need both theories and have to choose which theory is valid for any experimental situation.

This site argues that we are forced into using what seem to be mutually exclusive descriptions of light. This is because both descriptions are wrong. But if light is mediated space-time then we can obtain a self consistent theory to explain its behaviour.

Proper interval locality not only predicts that quantum systems exchange energy impulsively but also predicts the probability distribution of where a donor is likely to find absorbers for its energy of excitation and where an absorber is likely to find a donor.

Remote self-super-positioning of quantum systems

If we consider the moment of impact when an absorber captures the energy of excitation from the donor, the donor and the absorber are super-positioned via the zero interval paths connecting them. From any event on the world-line of the absorber there are many zero interval paths connecting that event to the donor’s world line. These paths can have different lengths, so the absorption event may properly touch the world-line of the donor at many different times. The quantum states of the donor at all times that are properly contiguous with the absorption event are super-positioned on the absorption event.
See the Development of the Wave-Function of Light

The energy exchanged in an interaction is

E1- E2

The difference between the initial and final energies of the donor system (Atom/molecule).

The actual energies seem fairly arbitrary for instance they may or may not include the rest mass of the electron; the important thing is the energy difference.
If we consider the moment of impact when an absorber captures the energy of excitation from the donor, the donor and the absorber are super-positioned via the zero interval paths connecting them. From any event on the world-line of the absorber there are many zero interval paths connecting that event to the donor’s world line. These paths can have different lengths, so the absorption event may properly touch the world-line of the donor at many different times. The quantum states of the donor at all times that are properly contiguous with the absorption event are super-positioned on the absorption event.
See the Development of the Wave-Function of Light

The energy exchanged in an interaction is

E1- E2

The difference between the initial and final energies of the donor system (Atom/molecule).

The actual energies seem fairly arbitrary for instance they may or may not include the rest mass of the electron; the important thing is the energy difference.

To give a comprehensive and fully self-consistent theory of light