Comment on the (misused) concept of photon in radiative transfer, and proposition of a neologism. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pujol, Olivier
• Is Part Of: Journal of quantitative spectroscopy & radiative transfer. Volume 159(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Radiative transfer -- Photon -- Fictive light particle; Spectrum analysis -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Periodicals; Analyse spectrale -- Périodiques; Rayonnement -- Périodiques; Radiation; Spectrum analysis; Periodicals; 543.0858
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2015.02.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4073

Abstract

Abstract: This is a short comment about the misused concept of photon in atmospheric radiative transfer. A neologism is proposed as a substitute that does not conflict with the Physics of our epoch. Abstract : Highlights: The term "photon" is widely misused in atmospheric radiative transfer. Misuse consists in an archaic Newtonian view of the photon. The word "photon" must be used only in the frame of Quantum Electrodynamics. In ray Optics, raypaths are formally analog to classical trajectories in Mechanics. The neologism "fictive light particle" is proposed to avoid the term "photon".