On the Relationship of Quantum Mechanics to Classical Electromagnetism and Classical Relativistic Mechanics

Abstract

Some connections between quantum mechanics and classical physics are explored. The Planck-Einstein and De Broglie relations, the wavefunction and its probabilistic interpretation, the Canonical Commutation Relations and the Maxwell--Lorentz Equation may be understood in a simple way by comparing classical electromagnetism and the photonic description of light provided by classical relativistic kinematics. The method used may be described as `inverse correspondence' since quantum phenomena become apparent on considering the low photon number density limit of classical electromagnetism. Generalisation to massive particles leads to the Klein--Gordon and Schrödinger Equations. The difference between the quantum wavefunction of the photon and a classical electromagnetic wave is discussed in some detail.