Quantum Electrodynamics Without Renormalization: A Record-Scale Ultraviolet Completion

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1. Verfasser: Kirk, Harold D.
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author Kirk, Harold D.
author_facet Kirk, Harold D.
contents <p>Standard quantum electrodynamics (QED) produces ultraviolet divergences because loop integrals sum over electromagnetic field modes at arbitrarily small wavelengths. Renormalization removes these infinities through systematic subtraction, yielding extremely accurate predictions but leaving unresolved questions about their physical origin.</p> <p><strong>This paper proposes that the divergences arise from assigning discreteness to the wrong physical object.</strong> In the Future Contraction Postulate (FCP) framework, the electromagnetic field is continuous while discreteness belongs to irreversible recording events that generate time. Because each recording event has a minimum temporal cost</p> <p>Δt = −kₜ Δ ln Ω,</p> <p>there exists a fundamental recording scale</p> <p>tᵣₑc = π tₚ,</p> <p>which implies a physical ultraviolet completion of QED at</p> <p>Λᵣₑc = ℏ / (c tᵣₑc) = Mₚ / π ≈ 3.9 × 10¹⁸ GeV.</p> <p>Evaluating the one-loop vacuum polarization with this recording-scale regulator yields finite expressions without renormalization subtraction while reproducing the observed running of the fine-structure constant α(μ). The framework predicts a finite electromagnetic coupling at the recording scale,</p> <p>α(Λᵣₑc) ≈ 0.0162 (α⁻¹ ≈ 61.75).</p> <p>Remarkably, this value lies within ~4% of an independently derived gravitational-sector coupling</p> <p>ε = 1/(6π²) ≈ 0.0169.</p> <p>The near equality of these two couplings suggests that electromagnetic and gravitational interactions may represent different low-energy regimes of a single recording-scale interaction. More broadly, the work proposes that ultraviolet divergences arise from quantizing fields rather than the record-forming processes that generate physical time.</p>
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spellingShingle Quantum Electrodynamics Without Renormalization: A Record-Scale Ultraviolet Completion
Kirk, Harold D.
quantum electrodynamics
ultraviolet completion
renormalization
fine-structure constant
quantum field theory
future contraction postulate
emergent time
record formation
Planck scale physics
asymptotic safety
quantum gravity interface
emergence as regime formation
<p>Standard quantum electrodynamics (QED) produces ultraviolet divergences because loop integrals sum over electromagnetic field modes at arbitrarily small wavelengths. Renormalization removes these infinities through systematic subtraction, yielding extremely accurate predictions but leaving unresolved questions about their physical origin.</p> <p><strong>This paper proposes that the divergences arise from assigning discreteness to the wrong physical object.</strong> In the Future Contraction Postulate (FCP) framework, the electromagnetic field is continuous while discreteness belongs to irreversible recording events that generate time. Because each recording event has a minimum temporal cost</p> <p>Δt = −kₜ Δ ln Ω,</p> <p>there exists a fundamental recording scale</p> <p>tᵣₑc = π tₚ,</p> <p>which implies a physical ultraviolet completion of QED at</p> <p>Λᵣₑc = ℏ / (c tᵣₑc) = Mₚ / π ≈ 3.9 × 10¹⁸ GeV.</p> <p>Evaluating the one-loop vacuum polarization with this recording-scale regulator yields finite expressions without renormalization subtraction while reproducing the observed running of the fine-structure constant α(μ). The framework predicts a finite electromagnetic coupling at the recording scale,</p> <p>α(Λᵣₑc) ≈ 0.0162 (α⁻¹ ≈ 61.75).</p> <p>Remarkably, this value lies within ~4% of an independently derived gravitational-sector coupling</p> <p>ε = 1/(6π²) ≈ 0.0169.</p> <p>The near equality of these two couplings suggests that electromagnetic and gravitational interactions may represent different low-energy regimes of a single recording-scale interaction. More broadly, the work proposes that ultraviolet divergences arise from quantizing fields rather than the record-forming processes that generate physical time.</p>
title Quantum Electrodynamics Without Renormalization: A Record-Scale Ultraviolet Completion
topic quantum electrodynamics
ultraviolet completion
renormalization
fine-structure constant
quantum field theory
future contraction postulate
emergent time
record formation
Planck scale physics
asymptotic safety
quantum gravity interface
emergence as regime formation
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18927974