Structure of the Photon
There has been considerable speculation on the probable physical structure of the photon , no single view has emerged. Some hold that the photon is doughnut shaped and divided into segments which give it its characteristics , others maintain that it is a simple sphere like shape , yet others believe that it is string shaped. In spite of these attempts to try and visualise what a photon may look like , it has been considered to be a relatively unimportant ( this maybe a result of the fact that a photon has no mass )or imponderable aspect of the whole issue. Yet modern research into phenomenon such as ultra sound , shows that in many instances sound may possess almost physical characteristics . The physical structure of a photon may therefore play an important role in a photon’s characteristics and help in trying to explain a number of ambiguous phenomena related to the apparent wave-particle duality of light and the conduction of electrical energy which can be explained quite rationally and coherently by imagining an appropriate type of structure for the photon. If we imagine the photon to be a series of bands of energy separated by bands of a di-electric , and possessing positive and negative poles, many of these problems are resolved.
See Fig 1 Structure of the photon
The structure enumerated results in the photon having around it a solenoidal type of electromagnetic field such as those found around bar magnets. The photon structure which consists of intermediate layers of a di-electric and electrical energy , performs like a condensor , this results in the identity (frequency/energy) of the photon being preserved . It also allows for the photon to link up with other photons in either a linear direction , (negative to positive) or in a lateral direction . (positive to positive , negative to negative ) Thus when the photons are linked in a linear direction the energy is to use an analogy , like a number of batteries connected in series , when the photons are linked laterally their energy is distributed over all the linked photons like batteries connected in parallel . This simple structure , not only fits in with all observed phenomenon , but also explains many puzzling aspects which have not been clearly explained . All electromagnetic radiation from x-rays to visible light to radio waves are made up of photons. The following are some generally accepted properties of photons :-
(1) Energy content in photon inversely proportional to its wavelength
Shorter wavelength, more energetic is photon
Longer wavelength, less energetic is photon
Equation for energy content: Ephoton = hc/l
where h = Planck's constant
and c = velocity of light
and l = wavelength
(2)Photons move with velocity of light in straight lines
(3)Photons are massless and electrically neutral
(4)]Photons are created inside atoms of radiating body from electrons from which they receive their energy content
(5)Photon energy content remains constant while traveling through space
(6)Photons may be absorbed by atoms when they encounter matter; they lose their identity by transferring their energy to atom
(7)Creation and destruction of photons by atoms is a classic example of conservation of energy
(8)Electromagnetic waves have wavelengths that range from 1 nanometer (10-9 meter) for x-rays to 1 kilometer (103 meters) for radiowaves. Wavelengths of visible light are in the range of 400 to 700 nanometers (nm).
(9)Concept of light as being simultaneously, not alternately,
(a)Discrete photons
(b)Continuous waves
In other words the wave particle duality of light.
It is interesting to note that the suggested structure for the photon , fits in with all the observed characteristics which have been enumerated while at the same time offering an explanation for some properties which have been improperly understood until now.
For instance :-
(a) How can an electron which has a size of 10-15 m. emit and absorb photons with a wave-length of thousands of metres. The answer is that these long wave-lengths are made up of linked photons which is made possible by the structure of the photon.
(b)How does a photon possess at one and the same time the properties of both a particle and a wave. The structure of the photon as suggested here makes this clear.
(c )How does electrical energy in a conductor travel at near the speed of light while the electrons themselves drift along at a speed of fractions of a millimetre per second. The answer is that electrical energy is conveyed by photons and not by electrons .
Frequency of photons:
It is suggested that there is a smallest finite unit of photon wave-length which might be about 10 -13 m. and that all photons possessing a wave-length greater than this are composite wave-lengths made up of units of this basic photon wave-length. Such a structure would explain the almost infinite number of possible photon frequencies. Photons involved in electrical conduction have a maximum wave-length of 10 -6 m.
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