Related papers: Far-reaching statistical consequences of the zero-…
A thermodynamic analysis of the harmonic oscillator is presented. Motivation for the study is provided by the blackbody radiation spectrum; when blackbody radiation is regarded as a system of noninteracting harmonic oscillator modes, the…
In 1893, Wien applied the first two laws of thermodynamics to blackbody radiation and derived his displacement theorem. Believing that the information from thermodynamics had been exhausted, Planck turned to statistical ideas in 1900 in…
A new thermodynamic analysis is presented for the intimate connections between blackbody radiation and zero-point radiation within classical physics. First, using the thermodynamic behavior of an oscillator under an adiabatic change of…
The Planck's radiation law for the blackbody radiation spectrum was capable to explain the experimentally-measured blackbody spectrum. In order to get this result, Planck proposed his radiation law in a two-fold way: 1) by an \textit{ad…
Based upon thermodynamic ideas, two new derivations of the Planck blackbody spectrum are given within classical physics which includes classical zero-point radiation. The first and second laws of thermodynamics, applied to a harmonic…
The nonzero ground-state energy of the quantum mechanical harmonic oscillator implies quantum fluctuations around the minimum of the potential with the mean square value proportional to Planck's constant. In classical mechanics thermal…
Just as for the ordinary quantum harmonic oscillators, we expect the zero-point energy to play a crucial role in the correct high temperature behavior. We accordingly reformulate the theory of the statistical distribution function for the…
A Brownian harmonic oscillator, which dissipates energy either by friction or via emission of electromagnetic radiation, is considered. This Brownian emitter is driven by the surrounding thermo-quantum fluctuations, which are theoretically…
A free particle coupled to a heat bath can exhibit a number of thermodynamic anomalies like a negative specific heat or reentrant classicality. These low-temperature phenomena are expected to be modified at very low temperatures where…
A huge discrepancy between the zero-point energy calculated from quantum theory and the observed quantity in the Universe has been one of the most illusive problems in physics. In order to examine the measurability of zero-point energy, we…
We obtain an exact formula for the equilibrium free energy of a charged quantum particle moving in a harmonic potential in the presence of a uniform external magnetic field and linearly coupled to a heat bath of independent quantum harmonic…
We give an example in which it is possible to understand quantum statistics using classical concepts. This is done by studying the interaction of charged matter oscillators with the thermal and zeropoint electromagnetic fields…
In the statistical mechanics of quantum harmonic oscillators, the zero-point energy can either be included (Schr\"odinger oscillators) or omitted (Planck oscillators). For the usual results, the type of oscillator makes no difference but,…
It is argued that the zero point energy in quantum field theory is a reflection of the particle anti-particle content of the theory. This essential physical content is somewhat disguised in electromagnetic theory wherein the photon is its…
The physics of quantum electromagnetism in an absorbing medium is that of a field of damped harmonic oscillators. Yet until recently the damped harmonic oscillator was not treated with the same kind of formalism used to describe quantum…
We consider the ground state of simple quantum systems coupled to an environment. In general the system is entangled with its environment. As a consequence, even at zero temperature, the energy of the system is not sharp: a projective…
A derivation of the Planck spectrum for thermal radiation is given based upon wave fluctuations within relativistic classical physics. The derivation depends crucially on thermal fluctuations existing above the fundamental…
By numerical calculation, the Planck spectrum with zero-point radiation is shown to satisfy a natural maximum-entropy principle whereas alternative choices of spectra do not. Specifically, if we consider a set of conducting-walled boxes,…
We study experimentally the thermal fluctuations of energy input and dissipation in a harmonic oscillator driven out of equilibrium, and search for Fluctuation Relations. We study transient evolution from the equilibrium state, together…
It has been shown repeatedly over a period of 50 years that the use of relativistic classical physics and the inclusion of classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation leads to the Planck blackbody spectrum for classical radiation…