Observations made with the NSIT’s electron beam ion trap have led to questions regarding the accuracy of the quantum electrodynamics theory.
Posted on 12/21/2012 11:05:27 AM PST by null and void
Recent observations prove revisions might be necessary for long support theory
Data gathered by a team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NSIT) suggest that certain aspects of the highly regarded quantum electrodynamics theory might require some revising.
Observations made with the NSIT’s electron beam ion trap have led to questions regarding the accuracy of the quantum electrodynamics theory.
What the group discovered, via the NSIT’s Electron Beam Ion Trap, is that ions with a strongly positive charge can display electrons that behave in ways inconsistent with what the theory suggests should happen.
About the quantum electrodynamics theory
The quantum electrodynamics theory is held in such high regard because it has a very long, very sound track record when it comes to describing electromagnetism’s effects on matter.
Specifically, the theory explains the behavior of electrons. It can tell how an electron will react when it collides with a passing article [sic]; that is, it’ll get bumped up to a higher energy state for a moment, but quickly fall back to its original orbit. When this happens, it gives off a photon of light, and the quantum electrodynamics theory can tell what wavelength, or color, that photon will have.
Putting the theory to the test
While the quantum electrodynamics theory has been accepted as-is for years-on end, technology has obviously been improved over this time. And since the scientific and engineering communities consist of many curious folk, the theory has continually been tested using modern-day technologies that are more precise than yesterday’s models.
So, with all of that being said, to test the quantum electrodynamics theory out, the NSIT used its Electron Beam Ion Trap to strip a heavy atom (titanium, iron, etc.) of nearly all of its electrons in order to observe how the remaining electrons would behave. “If 20 of titanium’s 22 electrons are removed, it becomes a highly charged ion that looks in many ways like a helium atom that has been shrunk to a tenth its original size,” explains NIST physicist John Gillaspy, a member of the research team. “Ironically, in this unusual state, the effects of QED are magnified, so we can explore them in more detail.”
During observations, Gillaspy and his team found that the photons given off by these very unique, highly charged ions were noticeably different in color than what the quantum electrodynamics theory suggested. This marks the first time the theory has ever been proven incorrect.
Outlook
The results are certainly fascinating, but fans of the quantum electrodynamics theory need not fear it’s immediate demise — this is just the first of many more tests to come. In fact, Gillaspy hopes that his group’s findings will inspire others to do similar tests and maybe even measure the emitted photons with greater accuracy.
“What the NIST experiment found is interesting enough that it merits attention,” says Jonathan Sapirstein, a professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame. “Independent calculations should be done to confirm the theory, and other experiments should also confirm the findings. However, if no errors are found in the theory and the NIST experiment is correct, some physics outside of QED must be present.”
The group’s paper, Testing three-body quantum electrodynamics with trapped Ti20+ ions: Evidence for a Z-dependent divergence between experiment and calculation, was published in Physical Review Letters. It is available to subscribers of the website. ■
“Exactly equal to the force of the door sill pressing back?”
You forgot opposite. F(12) = -F(21) as in points 1 and 2
lol.
Religion is never wrong, it’s just created.
lol
do we have a “Settled Religion” ping list?
It's not a trick, not a joke, and not a vector problem.
The formula F = MA is correct.
Irregardless of Mass ... given zero Acceleration the force is zero.
It might be interesting to try the question out on whiz kids you know.
The scientific method is the best method we have for finding out answers to our questions. You can still believe in God while admitting the scientific method is our best tool.
That sounds fishy to me. So if I’m bench pressing and I get stuck half way up, I’m not exerting force? I understand the math aspect, since zero times anything is zero. If my force is zero, what am I exerting?
Yes. And zero=zero. No ± sign, no sine...
Yes. And zero=zero. No ± sign, no sine, no sighin’...
Effort. But you are accomplishing no work...
It is possible that they have tried to compensate for this, but the compensation calculation could be a very difficult one to do accurately.
However, if no errors are found in the theory and the NIST experiment is correct, some physics outside of QED must be present.”
***Physicists have been resisting this notion for 23 years, trying their best to deny the data coming from other Condensed Matter Nuclear Science Experiments known as Cold Fusion.
Pressure.
“I’m not exerting force?”
You are exerting force. But it has become equal to the force of gravity.
ΣM=0
(assuming static equilibrium)
Do you really mean sill? The sill is a raised segment at the floor. Or did you mean the door jamb (the vertical member of a door frame. The top horizontal member of the door frame is called the head. So was the prof leaning drunk or fall down on the floor drunk?
That’s not true. There’s still a force that you are exerting on the doorframe, it’s just not strong enough to overcome any counteracting forces, to create an acceleration in the doorframe. You’re still exerting a force though.
You have to take gravity into account. You are exerting upward force, which is exactly balanced by the downward force coming from gravity.
Tell that to the ATPase in the Actin-Myosine filaments
Thanks for all the feedback.
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