Detectable photons and neutrinos travel in straight lines. They do not interact much with each other and are largely unaffected by electromagnetic and gravitational forces.

The aether

This means that if there is an aether made up of zero-point photons and neutrinos, communicating the electric force, the magnetic force and gravity through collisions, the zero-point particles have to behave in a different manner from their detectable counterparts.

Electron in an aeter of zero-point photons and neutrinos

There must be an energy threshold very close to zero where photons and neutrinos go from vigorously interacting with each other to being largely indifferent to each other, and hence able to move in a straight line.

Once above this first threshold, photons and neutrinos go from bouncing about as an aether, to being like bullets cutting through the aether from which they came.

Three energy levels

A second energy threshold transforms photon radiation into inertial matter through the production of electron-positron pairs. This happens in high energy events such as lightning strikes.

With two energy thresholds, we end up with three distinct energy levels. They are:

1. Aether at the zero-point level
2. Energetic photons and neutrinos
3. Inertial matter

This corresponds to the three broad energy levels recognized by conventional quantum physics as:

1. Virtual particles at the zero-point level
2. Photons and neutrinos
3. Inertial matter

Conclusion

The main difference between the two models is that our strict particle model operates with real particles all the way, with no creation or destruction of matter, while conventional quantum physics sees a transformation from energy to matter.

In both cases, there is a phase shift taking place between point 1 and 2, and another phase shift happening between point 2 and 3.