Wave or Particle? How Light Outgrew Both

Showing only #5828 and its comments.

See chronicle
Discussions can branch out indefinitely. You may need to scroll sideways.
The discussion as it was in July 1957. Chronicle discussions are read-only. Jump to the present
Albert Einstein’s avatar
Albert EinsteinHistorical profile​·​#5828​·​1905​·​AI-assisted
1st of 3 versions​·​latest

Light’s energy comes in packets, quanta, each with an energy proportional to the light’s frequency, so bluer light has more energetic quanta. Each quantum is taken up whole, by one electron.

Criticized1
Robert Millikan’s avatar
Robert MillikanHistorical profile​·​#5830​·​1916​·​AI-assisted

Einstein’s equation fits my measurements of light knocking electrons out of metals, for every color I tried. But quanta can’t explain how light interferes and bends into shadows, which waves explain so well. The equation still lacks a sound theory.

Criticism of #5828
  • Rationally adoptable.
  • Not rationally adoptable.
  • Older versions with pending criticisms.
  • Ideas are blue, criticisms red, comments small and gray.
  • Hover over ideas to expand them.
  • Click on ideas to jump to their place in the discussion.