Stochastic Electrodynamics: The Closest Classical Approximation to Quantum Theory

Abstract

Stochastic electrodynamics is the classical electrodynamic theory of interacting point charges which includes random classical radiation with a Lorentz-invariant spectrum whose scale is set by Planck’s constant. Here, we give a cursory overview of the basic ideas of stochastic electrodynamics, of the successes of the theory, and of its connections to quantum theory.

Keywords

• stochastic electrodynamics
• classical zero-point radiation
• classical-quantum connections