Chapter 07
What are Fields?
Fields are quite an established concept in physics along with waves, but the general reader may need some background information to help appreciate their significance in this theory. This section provides some new insights into what E-M fields actually are after presenting a summary of their current status.
Elsewhere, I have written that there is nothing more fundamental in the universe other than fields, and significantly, that there is only one basic or universal type – Electromagnetic. These E-M fields make all the energy, mass and interactions or forces that we observe. They even make us: - Our bodies, and all our thoughts, feelings, memories and pain that are part of being human.
So, what actually are these things physics calls fields. apart from their being all and everything? Why is it important for us to understand them?
Fields are everything
Even the very concept of understanding and learning comes about because of the actions of fields in our neural system. They are like water to a fish, but could a fish contemplate what water really is? Most would just keep swimming. What sort of fish are you?
Since Newton, physics has introduced the idea of fields to initially explain what it called action at a distance. I will try to summarise what it has to say about them today, using material from an article in Wikipedia.
Fields in physics are physical quantities that are assigned to every point in space or spacetime. They are seen as extending throughout a large region of space and influencing everything. Some examples of fields in physics are:
· Gravitational field: generated by the presence of mass and has a direction.
· Electromagnetic field: generated by the presence of charge whose state of motion creates different kinds of electric fields, magnetic fields, or both.
· Scalar field: a field that has only one value at each point, such as temperature or pressure.
· Vector field: a field that has both a value and a direction at each point, such as velocity or force.
According to modern physics, this is quite a relevant and integral definition with examples of the different types it currently recognizes. Fields are a big thing. To the best of our current knowledge, they are our measure of what’s happening in space, due to some physical influence.
We could take this further and broaden our definition to include things like smell and loudness, but these require a medium (air) and are not true or fundamental fields according to SED theory. For our purposes though, we will concentrate only on those vector fields that pervade space alone, without a medium. Later we will show that gravitational fields are just a special case, due to the action of E-M fields.
SED says that while all fields may have the above properties, true electromagnetic fields have so much more. Firstly though, we should acknowledge how pervasive fields are, being everywhere, even in a vacuum or void. As we have said, they are a consequence of an influence, separated in space. Elsewhere, SED explains how everything is ultimately a field because fields create all the forces and fundamental particles. Forces create all the actions and change in the universe. And fundamental particles create all the matter in it as well. They are what you and everything else is made of.
Likewise, every event that each particle experiences is based on its interactions with the fields that made it. This is how events evolve according to Yin Yang. An unfolding eternal vibration of opposites. Just what E-M fields are. This was also stated by Newton when he described mechanical forces with the equation, F = ma. And even in this, both sides are fields as we shall see, for fields are everything.
Of all the types of fields and interactions that exist and are described by physics, SED contends there is really only one, electromagnetic, that is fundamental and the single source of all and everything in the universe.
All the interactions of all particles are based on E-M fields. Even the particles themselves. These fields are ubiquitous, as the following excerpt contends. It is taken from another part of the same article on fields in Wikipedia. While being more technically advanced, some readers may like to consider it as well, because it offers some relevant insights into the study of fields.
In physics, a field is a physical quantity, represented by a scalar, vector, or tensor, that has a value for each point in space and time.[1][2][3] For example, on a weather map, the surface temperature is described by assigning a number to each point on the map; the temperature can be considered at a certain point in time or over some interval of time, to study the dynamics of temperature change. A surface wind map,[4] assigning an arrow to each point on a map that describes the wind speed and direction at that point, is an example of a vector field, i.e. a 1-dimensional (rank-1) tensor field. Field theories, mathematical descriptions of how field values change in space and time, are ubiquitous in physics. For instance, the electric field is another rank-1 tensor field, while electrodynamics can be formulated in terms of two interacting vector fields at each point in spacetime, or as a single-rank 2-tensor field.[5][6][7]
In the modern framework of the quantum theory of fields, even without referring to a test particle, a field occupies space, contains energy, and its presence precludes a classical "true vacuum".[8] This has led physicists to consider electromagnetic fields to be a physical entity, making the field concept a supporting paradigm of the edifice of modern physics. "The fact that the electromagnetic field can possess momentum and energy makes it very real ... a particle makes a field, and a field acts on another particle, and the field has such familiar properties as energy content and momentum, just as particles can have."[9] In practice, the strength of most fields diminishes with distance, eventually becoming undetectable. For instance the strength of many relevant classical fields, such as the gravitational field in Newton's theory of gravity or the electrostatic field in classical electromagnetism, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source (i.e., they follow Gauss's law).
A field can be classified as a scalar field, a vector field, a spinor field or a tensor field according to whether the represented physical quantity is a scalar, a vector, a spinor, or a tensor, respectively. A field has a consistent tensorial character wherever it is defined: i.e. a field cannot be a scalar field somewhere and a vector field somewhere else.
This is a reasonable overview of what physics currently has to say about fields. However, we now ask the question: What are E-M fields really made of? This Wikipedia article helps to classify fields and describe their properties and even suggest that like particles, they possess energy and momentum. SED says that while this is true to a point, all particles are actually made from fields, not the reverse.
Furthermore, SED claims that because the universe is physically only energy and matter, then perhaps this is also true of fields. Could it be that the electric field is actually like energy and that the magnetic field is a type of momentum or matter in motion?
There is possibly a direct connection here and one that should be perused. Are electromagnetic fields simply another form of energy and matter? It is interesting to consider Maxwell’s equations in this light, for then they take on a new meaning similar to Newton’s laws. We have a section on Maxwell’s equations later in this book to cover this idea.
SED has two further points to add. Firstly, it acknowledges how close modern science is coming to an understanding of how matter is made from E-M fields, but physics has not yet grasped a mechanism to reveal how this happens. It has had no model. However, as we have said, there is a structure or model which SED calls a roton, that is a soliton or sustained standing wave of energy. And this soliton creates matter from light. Light held in one place and exhibiting inertia.
Secondly, this roton, in addition to being the basis of all fundamental particles, is actually the elusive spinor, which physics has until now, been unable to physically define or picture. It is aware of the curious properties a spinor must have, yet can offer no physical description of the thing itself. Later, in the section on spinors, we will discuss this further and show what a spinor really is. Until now physics has been unable to explain this elusive concept, apart from describing its abstract mathematical behaviour and acknowledging that it has great importance to the study of fundamental particles and their spin. We will see that our model perfectly accounts for all the spinor’s properties in a natural and readily understandable way, without the need for intangible or abstract space. After all, in the real world there is only real space.
Fields and the relationship between Electricity and Magnetism
Modern physics has stressed the fact that electricity and magnetism are fundamentally just different sides of the same coin. SED agrees and goes on to state that it is the E-M wave itself that is the root cause of this connection. We need to explore this relationship further and will start by comparing the size of the two fields in the E-M wave.
There is a simple but profound relationship between these two. It is E = Bc, where c is the speed of light. This means that the electric field (E) is about 3 x 108 times as big as the magnetic field (B). It is why the electric force is so much more powerful than the magnetic force. It is also why we are under the illusion that things appear hard and have a surface, when actually at very small distances, these [10]opposite electric fields in different bodies repel strongly and prevent any closer contact. In comparison, the whole magnetic field of the earth can barely change the direction of a compass needle.
Another important aspect of electromagnetism is that changing one field in time or space causes the other to vary in sync and this is why they need no medium to travel through, as was so elegantly described by Maxwell in his last two equations. As we have also said, their ratio is c, a constant, so they must always change together and in the same direction. However, the E-field will vary more. A practical feature of this relationship is that we can change the B-field by small amounts and get a far more significant boost in the E-field. This is a key idea in how electricity is produced by generators in power stations.
Further remarks
Fields are all and the only thing that ultimately exists.
We have said before that physics is primarily concerned with matter and energy and one of its main aims is to try and simplify this complicated world by finding connections and symmetries or patterns in its behaviours. This leads to laws and equations that increase order and understanding.
In light of this, SED recommends that we consider the following unifying idea: - Assuming both of the following statements are valid, firstly, that the universe is made from the action of E-M fields alone and likewise, that physically it contains only energy and matter, then perhaps there is a direct connection here. Could it be that the electric field is actually like energy and the magnetic field is a type of momentum or matter in motion?
We know from Newton how changing [11]energy causes a change in momentum, and that the reverse is also true. Furthermore, we write E = mc2 for energy, and mc for momentum, so their ratio is also c. This is identical to the ratio that we have with the E and B fields we are discussing. Significantly, this connection would mean there is nothing more fundamental than energy and matter. Everything including the E-M fields that make electricity and magnetism become only variations of these two basic entities, energy and momentum or matter in motion.
If this is the case, SED concludes that the very things that comprise light and also what light converts, i.e. matter from energy and energy from matter, are actually the fields themselves that convert to sustain light. Nothing else is required.
[10] In the sense that SED will describe in the next section, in relation to charge.
[11] Force is only a manifestation of energy and its consequence.
The Origin of Everything
(Online Edition)
-
![]()
08 - Charge and Magnetism
What if charge and magnetism aren’t fundamental points but consequences of something deeper? Here we explore how electromagnetic fields give rise to electric charge and magnetism, opposing the current school of thought. It is the elegant interplay of these dynamic fields within the roton that create all of the forces in nature.
-
![]()
09 - The Electron
In this chapter, the structure of the electron is revealed. Made from two gamma-ray photons colliding at right angles, their energy locks into a spinning loop called a roton—a stable, three-dimensional wave. This motion gives rise to mass, charge, and spin, with no need for point particles. The electron is light, folded and locked into form.
-
![]()
10 - The Atom
This chapter shows how protons, neutrons, and electrons form from light itself, held together purely by the electromagnetic force—no need for a separate “strong force.” Through Structural Electrodynamics, we uncover the physical structure behind charge, spin, fusion, and the stability of matter itself.
-
![]()
11 - The Universe
From the subatomic to the cosmic, SED extends its insights to the vast structure and evolution of the universe. This chapter explores how time, matter, and space emerged through waves of creation, annihilation, and expansion - guided by electromagnetic fields. A fresh explanation for inflation, antimatter asymmetry, and mass reveals the universe as a dynamic interplay of field-based phenomena.
-
![]()
12 - What is Gravity?
Gravity isn’t a force - it’s space itself compressing around matter, pulled inward due to its formation. This chapter redefines gravity as a geometric effect caused by the 3D twisting of energy, revealing the true link between mass, spin, and space-time. SED offers a physical explanation Einstein never had, uncovering why gravity is weak, always attractive, and utterly fundamental.
-
![]()
13 - Dark Energy, Dark Matter, and Black Holes
SED suggests that even the darkest forces in the cosmos (black holes, dark matter, and dark energy) emerge from the dynamics of electromagnetic fields. From accelerating expansion powered by ongoing annihilation, to invisible rotons that may comprise dark matter, this chapter offers field-based explanations where standard models fall silent. It even draws a provocative link between black holes and fundamental particles through the fine structure constant, hinting at a cosmic symmetry.
-
![]()
14 - SED and Maxwell’s Equations
Maxwell’s equations are the foundation of electromagnetism, and SED brings them to life by modeling particles as dynamic, twisting field structures called rotons. Within this framework, electric charge emerges from divergence, mass arises from curl, and the dance between E and B fields sustains both light and matter. The roton isn’t just compatible with Maxwell’s theory - it’s a vivid physical manifestation of it.
-
![]()
15 - The Fine Structure Constant
Since its discovery in 1916 by Sommerfield, the Fine-Structure Constant, α, has long been a mystery, known precisely but not understood. SED proposes that α represents the ratio between the width of a particle’s electromagnetic path and its overall wavelength, giving physical meaning to this dimensionless number. In this model, particles are structured as twisting electromagnetic fields (rotons), and only a specific internal twist, equal to α, can sustain their stable motion. Thus, α emerges naturally from the geometry of light trapped in matter.
-
![]()
16 - SED and Spin
An eternal twist woven into the fabric of every particle. SED reveals that this motion isn’t abstract or symbolic, but real angular momentum born from the spiraling dance of light itself. Through the geometry of rotons, matter inherits its spin, mass, and dual magnetic states. What quantum theory once shrouded in mystery, SED brings into view with clarity and elegance.
-
![]()
17 - Problems with the Standard Model
The Standard Model claims to explain the fundamental particles and forces of nature - but SED challenges its complexity, contradictions, and reliance on unverified entities like quarks and gluons. What if mass, charge, and spin emerge from elegant field structures instead of patchwork theories? This chapter invites you to question the orthodoxy and discover a simpler, more unified picture of the universe.
-
![]()
18 - Unification of the Four Forces
What if all the forces of nature - gravity, electromagnetism, the strong and weak nuclear forces - were just different expressions of a single phenomenon? This chapter presents SED’s radical proposal: that electromagnetic fields alone are responsible for every interaction in the universe. From the binding of atomic nuclei to the warping of space-time, SED reveals how geometry, spin, and field dynamics replace the patchwork of separate forces. It’s an elegant unification, long sought by physics and perhaps, finally within reach.
-
![]()
19 - What are de Broglie Waves?
De Broglie’s bold idea that all matter behaves like a wave helped spark the quantum revolution. SED brings it vividly to life. By connecting wave-particle duality to real spinning fields, this chapter reimagines de Broglie waves not as abstract probabilities, but as tangible, physical motion. Discover how the dance of spin, wavelength, and momentum shapes both the quantum and the cosmic.
-
![]()
20 - What is a Spinor?
Spinors are essential to modern physics, yet their physical meaning has remained obscure for over a century. This chapter explores a new perspective from SED that connects spinors with the structure of matter in a clear and testable way. It shows how their strange properties (like requiring a 720° rotation to return to their original state) can be understood as real features of the particles they describe. The result is a model that links the abstract spinor to the familiar electron, revealing them as one and the same.
-
![]()
21 - SED and Polarisation
A sine wave is circular motion viewed side-on. Fundamentally light is always spinning. This chapter explores how the orientation of that spin gives rise to different types of polarisation: vertical, horizontal, and circular. SED reveals how aligned spins in photons unlock phenomena from sunglasses to 3D cinema. Discover how polarisation offers a window into the deeper structure of light itself.
-
![]()
22 - What is a Measurement?
What exactly happens when we measure something? In classical science, measurements were thought to simply reveal fixed properties - but quantum physics reveals a deeper truth: the act of measuring can influence the system itself. This chapter explores how observation collapses possibilities into outcomes, and how uncertainty sets limits on what we can ever truly know. A fascinating look at the fine line between potential and reality.
-
![]()
23 - What is an Observer?
What does it really mean to observe something in physics and why does it matter? This chapter explores the observer’s role in transforming possibilities into actual events, especially at the quantum scale. From photons emitted one by one to the mysterious collapse of the wave function, it challenges the idea that observation is passive. Is the observer merely watching, or are they fundamentally shaping what unfolds?
-
![]()
24 - What is Entropy?
Often described as a measure of disorder, entropy is a slippery but fundamental concept shaping our understanding of the universe's fate. From the quiet structure of living systems to the chaotic drift toward cosmic “heat death,” this chapter explores entropy as both a mathematical idea and a deep physical truth. Is energy the driver of disorder? Can entropy itself be stored? These provocative questions are explored further.
-
![]()
25 - SED and Schrödinger’s Equations
Schrödinger’s equation describes how quantum systems evolve, but SED reveals the physical origin behind the maths: spin. Matter waves aren’t abstract- they emerge from the rotational motion of energy in soliton structures. Spin, encoded in Planck’s constant, is the heartbeat of matter itself. This chapter bridges wave mechanics and real structure, grounding quantum behaviour in electromagnetic motion.
-
![]()
26 - What is a Neutrino?
Neutrinos are the ghost particles of the universe - abundant, fast, and almost invisible to interaction. SED suggests they are oversized, low-energy rotons with hidden structure and a single unchanging spin. Their mysterious ability to morph between three types may be tied to motion through the three dimensions of space. Could their elusive nature be due to an undetectable charge and giant size? This chapter explores the particle that slips through almost everything, including our understanding.
-
![]()
27 - What is a Wave and What is Waving?
Are the waves in quantum physics real, or just mathematical ghosts? SED argues they’re electromagnetic through and through - real, measurable, and the very essence of matter. This chapter challenges the Copenhagen view, rooting wave-particle duality in structured energy, not abstract probability. What if potential is more physical than we could imagine?
-
![]()
28 - Gravitational Mass and Inertial Mass
What makes mass resist motion? And what makes it attract other mass? This chapter explores the link between gravitational and inertial mass, proposing they stem from the same origin: space compression during matter formation. Using the SED framework, it offers a tangible geometric explanation for inertia and gravity, and hints at the futuristic possibility of anti-gravity. Could mastering the geometry of space lead to revolutionary new motion?
-
![]()
29 - Energy Is Not Quantised
Is energy truly quantised? This chapter challenges a core quantum assumption, proposing that while Planck’s constant (h) is quantised, energy itself flows as a continuum - its apparent granularity an illusion shaped by the frequency of vibration. Photons may arrive in discrete packets, but the underlying fabric of energy can take on any value. What determines a particle’s mass or energy? The search for deeper balance continues.
-
![]()
30 - Conclusion
A new beginning is formed. From conclusions on the formation of matter, gravity, and the fine structure constant a new picture of the universe has been defined. Where to from here?
-
![]()
31 - Further Studies
These are the areas where further investigation is needed to complete the Theory of Everything.
-
![]()
32 - References
Interested in further reading? These are the previous authors and books that helped to form the theories within The Origin of Everything
-
![]()
Foreword
Before diving into the main content, read here about the motivation behind the book and the big questions it seeks to answer. See who inspired the work, and the thinking that led to this theory, and why it might just change the way we understand the universe.
-
![]()
01 - Introduction
Modern physics often buries insight under complexity. The theory outlined in The Origin of Everything offers a return to simplicity and a new vision of how the universe is built. Written for curious minds, it presents a bold, unified theory of everything - grounded in known physics, inspired by new insight.
-
![]()
02 - Structural Electrodynamics (SED)
Here we meet the core concept of the book - Structural Electrodynamics: matter is made from energy loops, not point particles. These loops, called rotons, are electromagnetic structures that trap energy in a spinning, three-dimensional wave - a soliton. SED offers a unified framework that can explain particles, forces, and even gravity from first principles.
-
![]()
03 - Matter and Energy
This chapter redefines the boundary between energy and matter. Energy flows in flat, fast waves, but when curled into a tight loop, it becomes mass. Using this model, we see that light and matter aren’t opposites but two states of the same underlying field.
-
![]()
04 - Quantum is Not That Strange
Quantum physics seems weird only when we treat it as separate from classical physics. This chapter shows that if you accept that all particles are waves with structure and spin, the quantum world starts to make intuitive sense. Wave-particle duality and other “mysteries” are natural outcomes of field behaviour.
-
![]()
05 - Angular Momentum & Planck’s Constant h
Spin is not a quirky quantum property. It's the foundation of all physical motion. Planck’s constant defines the smallest unit of angular momentum, making it the heartbeat of the universe’s structure. Everything spins, and spin defines everything.
-
![]()
06 - The Uncertainty Principle
The Uncertainty Principle isn’t about fuzziness or confusion. It’s about the deep interconnection between motion and measurement. You can’t perfectly know a particle’s position and momentum at the same time because they're different faces of the same process. This chapter reframes uncertainty as a natural limit of structured fields.
-
![]()
07 - What are Fields?
Fields are more than mathematical abstractions. They are the basis of all of the physical universe. And there is only one type - Electromagnetic. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding how all energy, matter, and forces emerge from field dynamics.
