Questions tagged [wave-particle-duality]
Use this tag for questions relating to the "wave-nature of particles" or the "particle-nature of waves" as they are often discussed in quantum mechanics, where a single object has properties of both classical particles and classical waves.
880 questions
-1
votes
3
answers
202
views
Do photons mediate momentum? [closed]
Question 1: If photons mediate the transfer of electromagnetic forces and most contact we deal with on a day to day basis are electromagnetic forces, is it safe to say that photons mediate momentum?
...
- 53
6
votes
6
answers
736
views
When physicists talk about light acting as a wave, are they referring to the wave function, or the EM field? What’s the difference? [duplicate]
Let me give an example to get to the heart of what I am asking:
In the case of the double slit experiment, an interference pattern shows up. Is this interference pattern the result of the wave ...
- 187
6
votes
6
answers
691
views
What does it mean that a photon is a particle?
Everyone agrees on the particle-wave dual nature of quantum physics. It is probably one of the axioms of quantum theory. No one questions the wave nature of photons and electrons. However, the ...
- 419
4
votes
5
answers
873
views
Quantum model of atom [duplicate]
When I was analyzing the structure of the atom (i'm new at this), the problem arose in the understanding of the motion of the electron. I realized that the electron cloud is just the probability of ...
- 49
0
votes
0
answers
63
views
When Exactly Do Particles Act Like Waves? [duplicate]
I'm currently taking Physics 2, in my first year of a BSc. We have just done a few weeks of a very broad introduction to QM. Last night i was on a walk and found myself wondering when exactly will a ...
2
votes
3
answers
465
views
Matter is defined as anything that occupies space and has mass, but electrons do not occupy space, so why is electron still considered matter?
In classical Physics Matter is defined as " anything that occupies space and has mass is considered matter" but according to latest theories of reality (the QFT), Electrons Etc are just ...
- 457
-2
votes
4
answers
434
views
Can waves be seen? [closed]
What is a wave? When a microscope which magnify enough to observe particles of size equal to the wavelength of a wave can we see the wave? in the context of waves like photon and electrons.
- 17
11
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Why is the Schrödinger wave equation totally different from the classical wave equation?
Why is the Schrödinger equation totally different from the classical wave equation ?
In the classical wave equation (like for EM waves), there is literally an oscillating electric and magnetic field , ...
- 457
1
vote
4
answers
236
views
Double slit experiment: what is an observer?
When we observed the photon after or before the slit, it behaves like a particle and we observed two crest on the display. But when we don't observed the photon it behaves like a wave and we see ...
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
141
views
Electron Double Slit Question [closed]
I had a question pertaining to what exactly the wave represents with the electron double slit experiment. I understand the fact that the electrons when going through both slits cause an interference ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
125
views
If a wave state collapses upon interaction, how do electron behave as waves? [closed]
Wouldn’t it constantly be interacting with magnetic fields around it? Or is there like a threshold of interaction which must be met before it collapses?
- 67
3
votes
1
answer
680
views
Is " freezing light" even an actual thing?
At the time this question was posted, we have recently heard a buzz about a team of Italian scientists, led by Antonio Gianfate from CNR Nanotec and Davide Nigro from the University of Pavia being ...
- 155
0
votes
0
answers
22
views
Why macroscopic/classical objects can't probe small distances? [duplicate]
The usual explanation given to understand why high energies are required to probe very small distances is that we need the de Broglie wavelength of the probe to be comparable/smaller than the length ...
9
votes
0
answers
251
views
Justification for solving hydrogen atom using de Broglie's relation?
Consider the hydrogen atom, more precisely, a single particle in three spatial dimensions with conjugate operators $[\hat r_a , \hat p_b] = i\hbar \delta_{ab}$ with Hamiltonian
$$ \boxed{ \hat H = \...
- 9,943
2
votes
3
answers
536
views
Veritasium video, where does the phase formula in the Feynman integral come from?
In this Veritasium video "Infinite Slit Paradox: Something Strange Happens When You Trust QM", the Feynman integral is built up from just one formula (that is completely brushed under the ...
- 245
-1
votes
3
answers
238
views
Reviewing the wave-particle duality
This could sound an elementary question, but the more I think about it, more convinced I am that there could be a different perspective.
I seriously doubt about what is called "wave particle ...
- 196
-1
votes
1
answer
101
views
How are photons carriers of the electromagnetic force as well as beams of particles(light) that have wavelengths? [closed]
I am only in high school but I have been reading a lot about Quantum Physics and one of the things I don’t get is particle wave duality and mainly what is light and what are photons. I have read that ...
- 25
0
votes
0
answers
47
views
How is light both a particle and a wave? I have read that light is a beam of photons and an EM wave/field but how? [duplicate]
By that I mean I constantly hear people talk about photons having wavelengths and frequencies but I thought it was a beam of particles hitting and object and getting absorbed. I have also seen ...
- 25
0
votes
0
answers
105
views
Wave of definite wavelength extends all over space
"The wavelength of a matter wave given by $λ=h/p$ has physical significance: its phase velocity $u$, has no physical significance. However, the group velocity of the matter wave is physically ...
- 1
1
vote
6
answers
2k
views
Where is an electron "physically" in superposition? [duplicate]
According to simple Google search:
When an electron is in superposition, its different states can be
thought of as separate outcomes, each with a particular probability of
being observed. An electron ...
- 167
0
votes
1
answer
77
views
Velocity of de Broglie wave of moving particle with velocity $v$
I came across the following question:
To obtain this answer with the frequency term in the relation is doable. But the options given seem to have elimination the term f. The answer given as the ...
- 17
0
votes
4
answers
319
views
Why do smaller particles have greater energy?
I'm watching Sean Carrols The Biggest Ideas in the Universe and in reference to the UV Cutoff and Effective Field Theory he tells about how smaller particles (like string theory) have greater energy ...
- 5,048
-3
votes
1
answer
139
views
Does $E = mc^2$ also work in quantum mechanics? [closed]
In quantum mechanics we know that De-Broglie wavelength (of matter waves) is given by
$$λ = h/mv $$
so, if electron is placed in a electric field that changes its energy (hence mass) would its ...
- 613
0
votes
0
answers
116
views
Assuming that fundamental particles vibrate or oscillate, is it possible they release energy in this process?
If fundamental particles release energy from their oscillation, that energy could be converted in gravitational force?
We know that gravity comes from mass. But we do not know how. We know mass and ...
3
votes
2
answers
608
views
Will the results from two diffraction experiment under exactly the same conditions be completely identical?
If two electron diffraction experiments are conducted under exactly the same conditions and are randomly stopped at the same time, will the results be completely identical? That is, will the ...
1
vote
2
answers
133
views
Photon-photon interactions
I know that photons don't directly interact with one another, but in the context of the double slit experiment they can interact to give an interference pattern. This seems like a contradiction to me. ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
95
views
Equipartition of energy and velocity of Ideal gas molecules
Assuming ideal nature of gases in accordance to kinetic theory of gases,
The expression of equipartition of energy which assigns $\frac{k_BT}{2}$ energy ($k_B$= boltzmann constant and $T$ = absolute ...
3
votes
2
answers
201
views
Why do we say $E=hf$ supports particle nature of light?
It is well known that the energy of light is given by $E=hf=hc/\lambda$, which supports the particle nature of light. However, $f$ (frequency) and $\lambda$ (wavelength) are properties of a wave! Isn'...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
87
views
What happens if one has $N$ number of screens in a double slit experiment?
Imagine, in a double slit experiment (for electrons) we place $N$ number of screens. For instance, if we have observed the electron right after it passes through a hole (in the double slit), then we ...
1
vote
0
answers
78
views
How in Aharonov–Bohm effect electron is confined to the region?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aharonov%E2%80%93Bohm_effect
electrically charged particle is affected by an electromagnetic potential $( φ , A )$, despite being confined to a region in which both the ...
- 865
4
votes
2
answers
444
views
Energy below threshold energy in photoelectric effect
In the photoelectric effect we shine photons onto a metal surface and if the frequency is greater than some threshold frequency photoelectrons are emitted and the energy of the photons is converted to ...
-2
votes
1
answer
122
views
Double slit experiment: What does it mean by observing or measuring? What's the difference?
When we talk about double slit experiment, there is duality in nature. There is a novel, a brief history of time from the Big Bang to black hole by(Stephen Hawking) where I heard about it, and when I ...
-2
votes
2
answers
129
views
Has anyone conducted a double, double-slit experiment but in a specific way described here?
My question is specifically for the case when an observation is made at the first double-slit as to which slit a particle passes through. In this case, the interference pattern is lost and we observe ...
0
votes
1
answer
167
views
Wave-particle duality? [duplicate]
What does it mean for an electron to behave as a wave? I can visualize electrons or other subatomic things as particles. But what do we mean when say it's all a wave. What is waving actually? Waves ...
- 29
0
votes
0
answers
123
views
Are photons both waves and particles, or particles subject to a probability wave? [duplicate]
We know that photons exhibit wave-like behavior, as demonstrated in the double-slit experiment. As the force carriers for electromagnetic interactions, photons are also particles. Does a photon's ...
- 128
-2
votes
1
answer
244
views
Are the wave and the particle in QM launched simultaneously? [closed]
According to the idea of de Broglie when an electron goes from excited state to the ground state a photon is released and simultaneously a wave. But there are many experiments in Cavity quantum ...
- 699
0
votes
1
answer
172
views
de Broglie wavelength and resolution of microscope
I read about electron microscopes and it's said that electrons have a smaller deBroglie wavelength than the wavelength of light and therefore, better spatial resolution (lambda/numerical aperture).
...
- 59
0
votes
1
answer
99
views
Wave-particle duality: interactions of like / different quantum fields
With my pop-sci level of understanding, it seems to me that quantum fields exhibit particle-like properties only when interacting with a different quantum field - i.e. electromagnetic field interacts ...
- 29
0
votes
1
answer
212
views
Question about Bohr/Einstein recoiling slits experiment [duplicate]
I have a burning question about the Einstein/Bohr recoiling slits experiment I've found explained by Feynman towards the bottom of this page: https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/III_01.html
Being ...
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
Diffusion of Electrons/Quasiparticles
I want to simulate the diffusion of electrons, or, more accurately, I want to simulate the diffusion of Bogoliubov quasiparticles. So I will break up some region of space into a fine grid and apply a ...
- 3,028
1
vote
2
answers
196
views
Trying to understand Einstein/Bohr recoiling slits thought experiment, please help
I'm having a hard time understanding the thought experiment with recoiling slits that Einstein presented to Bohr in one of his failed efforts to invalidate the uncertainty principle. Please see ...
0
votes
3
answers
253
views
Can we cancel out light in the same way we do sound using interference?
I understand sound waves interfere and, if organised strategically, can cancel each other out to produce what is basically silence. My question is: since waves of light can produce their own ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
119
views
Laymen trying to understand the uncertainty principle
I'm confused, please help.
In the double slit experiment, when we don't observe which hole the particle was in (leaving the position uncertain), the particle behaves like a wave. When we do observe ...
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Relation between dual nature and mass [duplicate]
Just read the topic of dual nature of matter especially of light.
one of our lecturers said that not just light but every particle of matter exhibits dual nature
and he also said that it depends on ...
- 49
0
votes
1
answer
306
views
The double-slit experiment with the pit in the screen
The main question is contained in the experiment #6. But first, 5 simple experiments are described to describe the designations that are used in the question of the experiment #6.
In the double-slit ...
- 226
15
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Electron "clouds" in an atom
I have a very naïve understanding of atomic structure and quantum mechanics. But from what I have heard about the double slit experiment with an electron, we can say that if we shoot photons on the ...
- 9,146
0
votes
1
answer
153
views
How is the mass/charge of an electron distributed considering the wave function superpositions?
If we consider it is all at one point, then there is no superposition, it is just exact.
If we consider it to be at one point, just that it develops only when we observe, then how does the ...
- 1
3
votes
2
answers
637
views
Particles and fields
From high school physics we are taught that photons are both waves and particles, and that they do not need a medium to travel through, being transverse waves. In QFT, we learn that particles are ...
- 343
0
votes
2
answers
274
views
What exactly does it mean for two bosons to be in the same state?
If I understand QM correctly, it's a fact that two bosons can have the same wave function in principle. What I'm wondering is if the particles governed by the wave functions can also be in the same ...
1
vote
0
answers
110
views
How can the attraction of opposite electric charges be explained by the exchange of virtual photons? [duplicate]
Sometimes, the electric force between two electrically charged particles is explained by the analogy of two freely floating astronauts that start throwing a ball towards each other. In this analogy, ...
- 300