Classical wave theory

As Bruce Clarke notes of the luminiferous/electromagnetic medium of late-classical wave theory Instead of several ethers conveying particular forms of energy, now a single ether conveyed multiple energies (Clarke 2001, 166). 

We shall apply the time-dependent perturbation theory of the last section to a system exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Before doing so, we review the classical wave theory of light.2... 

THE PHYSICS OF WAVES, William C. Elmore and Mark A. Heald. Unique overview of classical wave theory. Acoustics, optics, electromagnetic radiation, more. Ideal as classroom text or for self-study. Problems. 477pp. 5b 8b. 

There are several concepts for the description of phase in quantum theory at present. Some of them are accenting the theoretical aspects, other the experimental ones. Quantization based on the correspondence principle leads to the formulation of operational quantum phase concepts. For example, the well-known operational approach formulated by Noh et al. [63,64] is motivated by the correspondence principle in classical wave theory. Further generalization may be given in the framework of quantum estimation theory. The prediction may be improved using the maximum-likelihood estimation. The optimization of phase inference will be pursued in the following. 

How does one go from the classical wave theory of light as an electromagnetic field, to the quantum mechanical theory of Einstein for absorption (and of course emission) that considers the corpuscular interaction between a photon and an electron. 

SCHRODINGER atempted to deny entirely the existence of discrete energy values and quantum jumps, and to resolve quantum theory into a simple classical wave theory. [... ]... 

Newton regarded light as a beam of particles but the interference and diffraction of light cannot be explained with this theory. These phenomena can only be explained on the basis of classical wave theory. 

The wave nature of electrons was a controversial thesis as it had to compete with a rival, namely the classical wave theory of light (Criterion 5). Furthermore, de Broglie had to face criticisms from influential schools of physicists... 

These observations, especially the dependency on frequency, could not be explained by classical wave theory. However, Albert Einstein showed that they are exactly what would be expected with a particle interpretation of radiation. In 1905, Einstein proposed that electromagnetic radiation has particle-like... 

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