Composite Photon Theory Versus Elementary Photon Theory (1503.00661v1)

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to show that the composite photon theory measures up well against the Standard Model's elementary photon theory. This is done by comparing the two theories area by area. Although the predictions of quantum electrodynamics are in excellent agreement with experiment (as in the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron), there are some problems, such as the difficulty in describing the electromagnetic field with the four-component vector potential because the photon has only two polarization states. In most areas the two theories give similar results, so it is impossible to rule out the composite photon theory. Pryce's arguments in 1938 against a composite photon theory are shown to be invalid or irrelevant. Recently, it has been realized that in the composite theory the antiphoton does not interact with matter because it is formed of a neutrino and an antineutrino with the wrong helicity. This leads to experimental tests that can determine which theory is correct.

• The paper evaluates composite photon theory, proposing photons are neutrino-antineutrino composites, and argues it resolves issues like electromagnetic field representation and polarization better than the elementary photon model.
• Composite theory derives Maxwell's equations inherently and predicts that antiphotons differ fundamentally from photons, unlike in the Standard Model where they are identical.
• The paper suggests experimental tests, such as examining antihydrogen emissions, could potentially validate composite photon theory over the elementary photon model.

Composite Photon Theory Versus Elementary Photon Theory

The paper by W. A. Perkins meticulously evaluates the composite photon theory against the Standard Model's elementary photon theory. The discourse is organized around several core theoretical constructs, aiming to resolve long-standing disparities in the understanding of light's elementary components. The author revisits the historical developments and criticisms of composite photon theory, particularly highlighting Pryce's 1938 objections, which are presented as no longer valid in light of recent theoretical advancements.

At the heart of this investigation is Perkins' argument that photons, rather than being fundamental particles, could be composites formed from neutrino-antineutrino pairs. This foundation transcends classical narrative by relying on various alternative derivations, such as the incapacity of the four-component vector potential in fully describing the electromagnetic field—a notable limitation within quantum electrodynamics, which posits the photon having only two polarization states.

The paper robustly critiques the elementary photon's commutation relations, which arise from classical mechanics' canonical formalism. In contrast, the composite theory advances a more intricate, though fundamentally coherent, set of commutation relations derived from the fermionic anticommutation properties of its proposed constituents—an electron neutrino and an electron antineutrino. This nature imparts complexity akin to other known composite bosons, offering potential explanations for phenomena presently unaccounted by traditional elementary photon modeling.

Key Theoretical Assertions

1. Polarization and Field Representation: The composite theory offers a solution to the longstanding problem of representing the electromagnetic field through a four-component vector potential by deriving polarization vectors directly from neutrino bispinors. In opposition, the elementary theory confines the spatial considerations of polarization vectors through selection to yield transversality.
2. Maxwell Equations: The composite photon theory inherently derives Maxwell equations, relying on the antiphoton's inherently distinct behavior due to differences in helicity. This contrasts explicit construction in the elementary model to accommodate the same equations.
3. Charge Conjugation and Symmetry: Notably, the paper argues that composite antiphotons exhibit the wrong helicity to interact with matter, thereby differing fundamentally from photons—a distinction that does not hold under the Standard Model where photons and antiphotons are identical.
4. Experimental Implications: Crucial to the paper's argument is the prospect of experimental validation. It proposes novel tests—such as examining antihydrogen atoms' spectral emissions for discrepancies predicted by the composite model—that might empirically distinguish between these theoretical interpretations.

Implications and Future Directions

The implications of adopting a composite photon framework are multifaceted. Theoretically, it challenges the entrenched notions of gauge symmetry and particle interactions as presently framed by the Standard Model. Practically, the difference in predicted interactions involving antiphotons opens avenues for unique experimental validation. Looking forward, advances in neutrino research and matter-antimatter interaction studies are likely to be instrumental in resolving the viability of composite photon theory. Additionally, developments in high-energy physics experiments, like those conducted by CERN, may offer empirical test beds for theories proposed herein.

In summary, the paper positions composite photon theory as a competitive proposition that merits detailed consideration within the landscape of quantum field theory. Yet, its acceptance remains contingent on experimental affirmation of its bold predictions concerning photon-antiphoton disparities and their interactions with matter.