The true nature of light still remains one of the biggest mysteries of nature. James Clerk Maxwell, in 1865, theoretically proved that light is an electromagnetic wave which was experimentally verified by Heinrich Hertz in 1887 and a broad scientific consensus emerged about the nature of light. In an attempt to explain photoelectric effect where electrons are generated when light falls on a metal plate, Albert Einstein in 1905, postulated that light consists of packets of energy or photons, whose energy is proportional to its frequency. It was able to explain the energy dependence of electrons on the frequency of light in photoelectric effect. It led to the broader acceptance of the theory that light has dual-nature and it behaves like a wave in free space and like particles while interacting with matter.
Thus, for more than a century scientists have believed that Maxwell's electromagnetic field theory cannot explain how light energises electrons. In the recent work, Dr. Dhiraj Sinha has postulated that the time varying magnetic field of light generates an electric potential which energises the electrons. The induced electric potential is mathematically defined as dj/dt where j is the differential change in magnetic flux j of radiation over a differential change in time t. Thus, the expression for energy transfer to an electron of charge e is W=edj/dt. The frequency domain or phasor representation of energy is ejw, where w is angular frequency of light. Dr. Sinha has correlated this to Einstein's expression on the energy of a photon ħw, where ħ is the reduced Planck's constant. Thus, he has shown that the magnetic flux of radiation field energises the electrons in accordance with the Maxwell-Faraday equation of classical electromagnetism. The theoretical framework put forth by Dr. Sinha argues that photons naturally emerge from the fabric of Maxwell's fields by assuming magnetic flux quantisation, which has been observed in superconducting loops as well as two-dimensional electron gas systems. Thus, light matter interaction can be explained using Maxwell's fields.
The idea has found strong support from a number of leading physicists. Jorge Hirsch, professor of physics at University of California, San Diego wrote a letter of support for the editorial board members. Steven Verrall, former faculty member at University of Wisconsin La Crosse says, "Dr. Sinha provides a new semiclassical approach to modelling quantum systems. I also think that his unique approach may ultimately add valuable insights to the continued development of semiclassical effective field theories in low energy physics." Lawrence Horwitz, professor emeritus at the University of Tel Aviv points, "This article is indeed a valuable contribution to the theory of photons and electrons." Richard Muller, Professor of Physics at University of California Berkley and Faculty Senior Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, commented, "The ideas are intriguing and they address the most fundamental of the non-understood issues of quantum physics including the particle/wave duality and the meaning of measurement."
Dr. Sinha's discovery offers a new framework for integrating classical electromagnetism into modern photonic devices, potentially revolutionizing industries reliant on light-based technologies. Thus, in principle, devices like solar cells, lasers, light emitting diodes, along with radio antennas which operate on the principle of Maxwell's equations can be integrated on the same platform. This work offers a novel framework towards one of the most radically transformative pathways towards their seamless integration.
Richard Parmee, founder of Cheyney Design and Development said, "Cheyney is proud to support Dr. Sinha's pioneering work, which has the potential to transform our understanding of light and its applications. Our mission is to champion early-stage innovations that push the frontiers of knowledge, and this research exemplifies our vision of nurturing high-impact scientific advancements."
Additional Information
- Sinha, D. Electrodynamic excitation of electrons. Annals of Physics, 473, 169893 (2025).
- Sinha, D., & Amaratunga, G. A. Electromagnetic radiation under explicit symmetry breaking. Physical review letters, 114, 147701 (2015).
About the Cheyney Design & Development Ltd
Cheyney Design & Development Ltd, Litlington, UK, founded by Richard Parmee, is at the forefront of innovations x-ray inspection technology. Its patented, cutting-edge technology and advanced stochastic algorithms position it as technical leaders in the x-ray inspection arena. Cheyney is dedicated to supporting early-stage innovations with transformative potential in science and engineering.
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