Objections to Handel’s quantum theory of1/fnoise

Abstract

A quantum theory of quantum 1/f noise was proposed by Handel in 1975. It relates 1/f noise in currents to infrared divergences in cross sections due to, e.g., soft-photon emission. We state a number of objections to this theory. Many of the points we raise have been raised before, but have not appeared in the open literature. Our objections are partly of a practical nature, while some concern the mathematical framework of the theory.