ABSTRACT
Electrification in natural processes is explained by photochemical reactions initiated by electromagnetic (EM) radiation induced in nanoparticles (NPs) by quantum electrodynamics (QED). The NPs ubiquitous to natural processes produce EM radiation depending on the thermal kT of atoms that at ambient temperature is emitted in the far infrared (FIR). However, EM radiation at vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) levels is required to initiate photochemical reactions, and therefore a mechanism is required to increase the frequency from the FIR to VUV levels – the mechanism called QED induced EM radiation. How the NPs form depends on the specific natural process, but all processes are unified by the VUV radiation induced in NPs by QED. For example, static electricity comprising positive and negative charges is produced from VUV induced in NPs that form in the rubbing of dissimilar solids, atmospheric electricity is produced by hydronium and hydroxyl ions from VUV induced in ice NPs as water vapor freezes at high altitudes, and flow electricity is produced by cations and electrons from VUV induced in NPs that form as clusters in turbulence. Prior applications of QED induced EM radiation were based on the EM confinement of FIR radiation in nanovoids (NVs) – bubbles in liquids and gaps in solids. But difficulties with NVs in this regard led to the conclusion that NPs whether liquid or solid are the most likely EM confinement of FIR radiation in natural processes. Compared to NVs, NPs assure EM confinement of FIR radiation to allow frequency up-conversion to VUV levels. Electrification first occurs at the instant the NPs form as the thermal kT energy of the atoms forming the NP is released in a burst of VUV radiation. Steady VUV is then produced as the NP recovers the thermal kT energy lost in the burst from blackbody (BB) radiation in the ambient surroundings. Either way, FIR radiation from the atoms within the NP is suppressed by QED because the FIR frequency is lower than the EM confinement frequency of NPs. To conserve EM energy, QED requires the kT energy loss corresponding to the suppressed IR radiation to be gained at the EM confinement frequency of the NP – typically in the VUV. In this way, the NPs produce the VUV radiation that by photochemical reaction with chemical species to produce charge in natural processes.