  I propose that quantum mechanics is a stochastic theory and quantum phenomena
derive from the existence of real vacuum stochastic fields filling space. I
revisit stochastic electrodynamics (SED), a theory that studies classical
systems of electrically charged particles immersed in an electromagnetic
(zeropoint) radiation field with spectral density proportional to the cube of
the frequency, Planck's constant appearing as the parameter fixing the scale.
Asides from briefly reviewing known results, I make a detailed comparison
between SED and quantum mechanics. Both theories make the same predictions when
the stochastic equations of motion are of first order in Planck constant, but
not in general. I propose that SED provides a clue for a realistic
interpretation of quantum theory.
