Electromagnetic Radiation: If light is made of electric and magnetic fields, what are those electric and magnetic field made of?

At the present physical state, scientists do not know what electric or magnetic fields are composed of. They are an explanation for the behaviour of light but are which is not something physicists are able to observe or study. Newton was in the 1600’s was in a similar situation when he spoke of the atom (which were referred to as “corpuscles”). He believed that atoms were the most definitive explanation for the behaviour of matter and not something he could observe or research and learn the elements they could be composed of.

Electronic (EM) wave (light) are known as waves that are analogous to physical waves that were known to the physicists of earlier times. Waves that were not understood earlier, such as water waves, transmit energy through some medium. For water waves their medium would be water. For sound waves their medium is air. EM waves are not known to have a medium.

However, EM waves were referred to as “waves,” because mathematically they behave the same way in a variety of ways with waves that contain the characteristics of a medium. In certain aspects, EM waves differ–their energy for instance, rises and decreases in lump quantities (is quantified). However, the intensity of the water wave rises or decreases in any quantity and not just in lump quantities. EM fields are also known as “quantum field” to differentiate them from the subject through which water waves seismic waves, sound waves, etc. travel.

Are Fields Real? Einstein is quite explicit that, according to his opinion the real world is a field and constitute the most fundamental element of the real world:

“We might say that prior to Maxwell who refined the concept of fields] Physical Reality in the sense that it represented nature’s processes, was thought to be a fusion of in matter particles ….Since the time of Maxwell, Physical Reality is believed to be represented as constant fields ….and is not capable of any mechanical explanation. This shift in the perception of Reality is the most significant and fruitful change that physics has witnessed since the period that of Newton.”

Source: A. Einstein in “James Clerk Maxwell, A Memorial Volume,” The Maximilian Company , NY 1931,” as quoted in Art Hobson Physics p. 152.]

In addition, the majority of scientists (unlike Einstein) don’t put much thought into the final realness of the entities they study and speculate about. They prefer to leave the question of “realness” to philosophers.

When physicists consider the reality of things, they tend to attribute reality to what produces effects that they are able to quantify. When physicists think of fields as real in this way they are sure that fields aren’t made out of matter. That is they’re not made out of atoms. Therefore are not materials. This is because often people mix “real” by combining “material.”

Mahmut Akkus replied to your query with the words “Numbers.” This means, EM waves are made of numbers. There is an increasing number of physicists that would respond to your question in this manner. Max Tegmark, physicist author of the book “Our Mathematical Universe” believes that, at its core the universe is made up of mathematical equations. Mathematical equations are the core of reality , and everything is made out of them.

What are the ways that equations, which are essentially ideas that are thought of as ideas, create an entire universe that we experience as three-dimensional? One approach to solve this challenge is to see the reality we experience as our conscious processing for us a lot of computer-based programming. In terms of consciousness as the human slaves of “The Matrix” film, see the results of a series of numbers as reality. Also, we live in a virtual space or simulation. Philosophers such as Nick Bostrom of Oxford University and Nobel-prize-winning physicist George Smoot, theorize about this.

Consciousness must be thought of as not being the result of a brain that is material instead as the foundation of everything, including brains. This is the view outlined in books such as “The self-aware universe” written by Amit Gswami. He is also the writer of a textbook for college students on quantum Physics.

For the record, the last two paragraphs aren’t considered to be as mainstream concepts; rather, they are an aspect that are part of the philosophical concept of “idealism.” The majority of popular philosophers and physicists consider themselves “realists,” who believe that the fundamental nature of reality is physical. Realists, however, get into trouble when trying answer the question of what the fields consist of. According to the above article scientists believe that fields which are the primary component of reality, aren’t made out of matter. This contradiction lies at the base of the realistic view of reality.

 

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