Virtual Photons as Quanta of Electromagnetic Interaction, Quantum Indeterminacy, and Uncertainty Relations
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Journal of Russian Laser Research, Volume 41, Number 6, November, 2020
VIRTUAL PHOTONS AS QUANTA OF ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTION, QUANTUM INDETERMINACY, AND UNCERTAINTY RELATIONS Vladimir N. Murzin∗ and Ljudmila Yu. Shchurova Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences Leninskii Prospect 53, Moscow 119991, Russia ∗ Corresponding
author e-mail:
murzinvn @ lebedev.ru
Abstract Based on the results of quantum field theory and quantum electrodynamics on virtual photons as quanta of electromagnetic interaction, we discuss the interpretation of quantum indeterminacy, uncertainty relations, and physics, which determine the probabilistic statistical character of quantum phenomena. We discuss the fundamental reasons for the appearance of the Planck constant in the uncertainty relations. The results of this work may be of interest not only for the quantum field theory and elementary particle physics but for other areas of physics as well.
Keywords: electromagnetic interaction, virtual photons, uncertainty relations, probabilistic statistical character of quantum phenomena.
1.
Introduction
Although the uncertainty relations (UR) were obtained by Heisenberg [1] in the beginning of the 20th century, the relevant research is being actively pursued until now. Special journal issues devoted to the anniversary of the uncertainty relations present the papers on various problems of quantum mechanics, including quantum limits of speed, optimal control theory, quantum information, quantum thermodynamics, etc. [2–9]. The relativistic quantum field theory (QFT) and quantum electrodynamics (QED) use four-vector of coordinates and time as well as energy and momenta that significantly complicates the mathematical apparatus of the theory, while at the same time open up new possibilities for the interpretation of quantum phenomena. When discussing the UR in books and monographs on quantum mechanics, the authors are usually limited by the interpretation based on the concept of the wave–particle duality. Modern relativistic quantum theories provide a deeper understanding of the physics of UR and allow one to discuss not only the main features of UR, but also the physics of the underlying wave–particle duality and the probabilistic nature of the quantum phenomena. In this paper, we discuss the physical content and features of UR based on ideas of virtual photons as the quanta of the electromagnetic interaction developed in relativistic quantum theories. The point is not only that quantum mechanics is not invariant to Lorentz transforms and therefore is not able to describe correctly the properties of quantum systems at high speeds and energies. A more significant problem is that the wave properties of quantum objects are directly related to the interaction processes of a quantum object with a measuring device, external fields or with other quantum objects. Quantum mechanics, in Manuscript submitted by the authors in English on September 11, 2020. c 2020 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 1071-2836/20/4106-0597
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