Emergence of quantization: The spin of the electron

Abstract

In previous papers, the quantum behavior of matter has been shown to emerge as a result of its permanent interaction with the random zero-point radiation field. Fundamental results, such as the Schrödinger and the Heisenberg formalism, have been derived within this framework. Further, the theory has been shown to provide the basic QED formulas for the radiative corrections, as well as an explanation for entanglement in bipartite systems. This paper addresses the problem of spin from the same perspective. The zero-point field is shown to produce a helicoidal motion of the electron, through the torque exerted by the electric field modes of a given circular polarization, which results in an intrinsic angular momentum, of value /2. Associated with it, a magnetic moment with a (g-factor of 2 is obtained. This allows us to identify the spin of the electron as a further emergent property, generated by the action of the random zero-point field. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.