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To: sourcery
That's not what I said. What I said was that ZPE is not the medium in which EM propogation occurs. ZPE is a consequence of QED/QCD, not the other way around.

I'm not trying to criticize, I'm trying to understand. Can you give me a thumbnail sketch of EM wave propagation?

106 posted on 03/01/2003 9:34:13 AM PST by Oberon (I think I need a nap.)
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To: Oberon
Can you give me a thumbnail sketch of EM wave propagation?

An electric field is measured/defined by the intensity of the force (accelerative effect on mass) that is produced by the field. An electric field propagates as a wave. The wave is produced by oscillation (to and fro movement) of an electric charge. So an electric field wave is simply the change over time in the strength of an electric field, produced as a result of the oscillative movement of the charge that produces the field.

Magnetic fields are more complicated, but the analogous distinction exists between magnetic fields and magnetic waves.

How fields themselves work, and their relation to space, time, matter and energy, is the core subject of any unifield theory of physics. For a very good discussion, I recommend Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe."

Magnetic fields are induced by currents and time-varying electric fields. Waves in an electric field make the field strength vary over time. Time-varying magnetic fields produce electric fields. Waves in the magnetic field make the field strength vary over time. It should be obvious, then, that electric field waves cause magnetic field waves, and magnetic field waves cause electric field waves. It is this process of A causing B causing A by which electromagnetic wave propagation occurs. An electromagnetic wave is both an electric field wave, and also a magnetic field wave. One wave causes the other, recursively.

You can see a graphical depiction here: Animation of the Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves

120 posted on 03/01/2003 1:52:56 PM PST by sourcery (The Oracle on Mount Doom)
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