Reference: Subject Clearing Universe
Reference: “Energy” in Quantum Mechanics

NOTE: The subject of Physics treats these fundamental particles mathematically, and it does not provide a proper visualization for them. The effort on this blog is to provide a visualization that is consistent with what is known. It does not change the mathematics of Physics.

The concept of quantum was first applied to electromagnetic radiation. It had to do with the amount of radiation that was absorbed and emitted by atoms. Such an amount was found to be proportional to the frequency of radiation, and not to its intensity.

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Definition of QUANTUM

In physics, a quantum is the minimum amount of any physical entity involved in an interaction. In the Standard Model of Particle Physics, quantum applies to the discrete amount of energy, which is radiated from an atom, or absorbed in an atom. This amount is proportional to the frequency of the radiation it represents. 

Thus, the concept of quantum applies to the radiative “particles” of spin 1 that can merge into each other forming a continuous flow that has a definite consistency. The particles of spin 1/2 are spinning vortices that cannot merge with each other to form a continuous flow; so, they are treated as units in themselves and don’t need the concept of quantum.

In summary, the concept of quantum is used to specify the unit of radiative energy that otherwise have a continuous flow with no distinguishable particles. Radiative energy of different consistencies have different quanta. 

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Misconceptions

1. It is a misconception to think of a quantum of energy as a particle in space and not as the amount of energy involved in a sub-atomic reaction.

2. It is a misconception to think of a quantum as a “wave-packet” of energy. The quanta do not have defined boundaries as a continuous flow in space, just like drops of water do not have defined boundaries in a glass of water. 

3. It is a misconception to think of a “wave-packet” as a packet of waves of certain wave-length. It is actually an energy field of certain consistency.

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