An introduction to stochastic electrodynamics: motivations, foundations and applications

Abstract

This dissertation presents an introduction to Stochastic Electrodynamics (SED), a theory that seeks to reinterpret quantum phenomena based on classical principles, postulating the existence of a classical electromagnetic zero-point field (ZPF) with a Lorentz-invariant energy spectrum. The central motivation is to investigate whether this stochastic classical field can be the origin of effects traditionally associated with quantization. The work is divided into three main parts. First, we trace the historical origin of the concept of zero-point energy, from the crisis of classical physics in the face of the blackbody radiation problem – with contributions from Planck, Einstein, Stern, among others – to its initial formulation. Next, we discuss the formal foundations of SED, constructing the zero-point field from Maxwell’s equations and establishing its attributes of randomness, spectrum, and Lorentz invariance. Finally, we present some applications of the theory, focusing on its ability to derive Planck’s spectrum for blackbody radiation and to predict dispersive forces, such as the Casimir force, from classical interactions between matter and the ZPF. We conclude the dissertation by assessing the current scope, extensions, and limitations of SED, highlighting it as a fertile alternative theoretical framework for understanding quantum phenomena.