Wave or Particle? How Light Outgrew Both

Showing only #5832 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​·​#5832​·​1927​·​AI-assisted
2nd of 3 versions​·​revised by Paul DiracHistorical profile​·​latest

Light is a quantum field. Its energy comes in quanta, photons, each taken up whole at one place. But the chance of finding a photon here or there spreads and interferes like a wave: each photon interferes only with itself. So light makes interference stripes and knocks out electrons alike.

Criticized1
Hugh Everett’s avatar
Hugh EverettHistorical profile​·​#5834​·​July 1957​·​System-generated

Superseded by #5833.

Criticism of #5832
  • 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.