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Evanescent radiation, quantum mechanics and the Casimir effectAn attempt to bridge the gap between classical and quantum mechanics and to explain the Casimir effect is presented. The general nature of chaotic motion is discussed from two points of view: the first uses catastrophe theory and strange attractors to describe the deterministic view of this motion; the underlying framework for chaos in these classical dynamic systems is their extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. The second interpretation refers to randomness associated with probabilistic dynamics, as for Brownian motion. The present approach to understanding evanescent radiation and its relation to the Casimir effect corresponds to the first interpretation, whereas stochastic electrodynamics corresponds to the second viewpoint. The nonlinear behavior of the electromagnetic field is also studied. This well-understood behavior is utilized to examine the motions of two orbiting charges and shows a closeness between the classical behavior and the quantum uncertainty principle. The evanescent radiation is used to help explain the Casimir effect.
Document ID
19900029037
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Schatten, Kenneth H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Franklin Institute, Journal
Volume: 326
Issue: 6, 19
ISSN: 0016-0032
Subject Category
Thermodynamics And Statistical Physics
Accession Number
90A16092
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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