An isotropic radiator is a theoretical point source of
radiation (waves) which radiates the same intensity of radiation in all directions.[1][2][3][4] That is, the power density of radiation at every point at a given distance from the source, on a
sphere centered on the source point, is constant.
The
radiation field of an isotropic radiator in empty space can be found from
conservation of energy. The waves travel in straight lines away from the source point, in the radial direction . Since it has no preferred direction of radiation, the power density [5] of the waves at any point does not depend on the angular direction , but only on the distance from the source. Assuming it is located in empty space where there is nothing to absorb the waves, the
power striking a spherical surface with the radiator at center, regardless of the radius , must be the total power in watts emitted by the source. Since the power density in watts per square meter striking each point of the sphere is the same, it must equal the radiated power divided by the surface area of the sphere[3][6]
Thus the power density radiated by an isotropic radiator decreases with the
inverse square of the distance from the source.
Since the power density of electromagnetic or acoustic waves is proportional to the square of intensity of the fields that carry the power (the
electric and
magnetic fields of an electromagnetic wave, the
sound pressure field in a sound wave) , the fields decrease with the inverse of distance from the source. For example for an electromagnetic wave
The term isotropic radiation is used in two senses in physics. When discussing an isotropic radiator it may mean the radiation field described above; the waves directed radially away from the source point, with power density decreasing as the inverse square of the distance. However in
thermodynamics it usually refers to a different radiation distribution: that which would be found at
thermodynamic equilibrium, as in a black
thermal cavity at a constant temperature.[7] In a cavity at equilibrium the power density of radiation is the same in every direction and every point in the cavity, meaning that the amount of power passing through a unit surface is constant at any location, and with the surface oriented in any direction.[8][7] This isotropic radiation field is different from that of an isotropic radiator.
An editor User:Naeemshahzada has been repeatedly inserting a sentence into the Interpretations section
"It has been recently proposed that biological cells solve the measurement problem being the smallest agents capable of processing quantum information within the framework of the holographic principle, entropic gravity, and emergent dimensionality."
The first problem I have with this addition is that it is inadequately sourced. It is supported by only two
WP:primary sources, research papers by the same author, Szymon Łukaszyk. WP requires secondary sources (
WP:PSTS). After this was pointed out, User:Naeemshahzada added two additional sources, also research papers by the same author, neither of which mention anything about the measurement problem, the previous papers, or the subject of the sentence. Any relation of these papers to the topic is
WP:SYNTHESIS. The second problem is this sentence gives
WP:UNDUE WEIGHT to a This section is only for the main
interpretations of quantum mechanics that have stood the test of time.
^The angle brackets indicate the average over a cycle, since the power radiated by a sinusoidal acoustic or electromagnetic source varies sinusoidally with time