Symmetries and Thermal Radiation: A Classical Derivation of the Planck Spectrum

2024/04/15 by Timothy H. Boyer, Boyer, Timothy H.
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Advanced Mathematical Theories and Applications

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2404.10116

Abstract

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 inertial-frame-independent fluctuations of classical zero-point radiation. Such frame-independent zero-point fluctuations exist only in a relativistic wave theory and cannot exist in a nonrelativistic wave theory. Thus such a classical derivation of the Planck spectrum exists in a Lorentz-covariant classical theory, such as classical electrodynamics, but not in a Galilean-covariant theory where all waves are based upon material media. Classical zero-point radiation provides a purely classical alternative to quanta in the analysis of the Planck spectrum.

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