B
Bishadi
Guest
This site has quite a bit
Casimir Force
items to ponder
So without 'f' (an em frequency) there would be no momentum.
Em is the energy between mass, not that a point of mass is energy or the cause of the association (momentum).
Casimir Force
items to ponder
So this site suggests that a 'force pressing the plate together' is based on the em occilations between plates... the energy in 'hf'The Casimir Force is an electric force, but its origin is different from that of ordinary electric forces. It is a purely quantum-mechanical effect arising from the zero-point energy of the harmonic oscillators that are the normal modes of the electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field must satisfy certain boundary conditions at the surfaces of our conducting plates, and these boundary conditions rule out some of the modes (oscillators) that would otherwise exist in unbounded space. Since there are fewer oscillators between the plates, there is less zero-point energy in this region. If the plates are brought closer together, this volume of smaller energy density is decreased, while the volume of normal zero-point energy density is increased. Since this results in an overall gain of energy to the universe, a force pressing the plates together is the result.
The harmonic oscillator is the first system a student of quantum mechanics analyzes. Its energy is found to vary by increments of hf, where h is Planck's constant, and f is the frequency of the oscillator. In addition, it has a zero- point energy of hf/2, and corresponding fluctuations in its position and momentum, even when it is in its lowest, unexcited state. This energy can never be taken from the oscillator; it is necessary for its existence.
So without 'f' (an em frequency) there would be no momentum.
A photon is a unit excitation of an oscillator, and has energy hf. An actual wave is usually a superposition of many photons. If you have followed the argument, you now realize that every volume of space has an infinite zero-point energy!
Energy itself is an odd and difficult concept. It cannot be regarded as a substance, though most people think of it as one. Energy is not a property of a point, but of a complete system, as beauty is of a painting. Of course, it can be so considered at times, but this is not fundamental. Only differences of energy are significant, not absolute values, as in the case of the simpler concept of entropy. Energy is always differentiated to get forces, and what we call the energy depends on how we intend to do the differentiation.
Zero-point energy adds mystery to an enigma. The fact that it is infinite for the electromagnetic field is uncomfortable, since we are unaccustomed to infinite values as reference levels, but in this case this is valid. When an elctromagnetic wave exists, the energy is infinite plus wave
Em is the energy between mass, not that a point of mass is energy or the cause of the association (momentum).