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LSMOG
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Light is an electromagnetic radiation with two wave components that are perpendicular. Between these two perpendicular waves, where is the photon in this system.
When I strike a block of stone with a heavy steel hammer, there are sparks. Between the hammer and the stone, where is the spark in this system?LSMOG said:Between these two perpendicular waves, where is the photon in this system.
"Real nature" is not a meaningful concept in science. If a theory explains and accurately predicts the behavior of a system, we go with that theory until and unless we find something better.LSMOG said:Okay thanks. It behaves like! What is its real nature.
Nugatory said:That doesn't mean that photons are a "component" of light, or that light is "made up" of photons, or that the photon is even there except when the light is interacting with matter.
Not a 'probability wave', just fluctuations (waves) in an electromagnetic field.GhostLoveScore said:What does that mean, that the photon is just a probability wave until it interacts with something?
And to extend this just a bit for the OP, what's also true is that not just any "photon" can excite just any electron. That ability depends on the frequency of the wave that causes the excitation so details of the "photon nature" side of a beam of light is a directly affected by the frequency of the light wave.rootone said:Not a 'probability wave', just fluctuations (waves) in an electromagnetic field.
'Interacting with something' generally means that the something has absorbed some energy of the wave.
This results in some electrons gaining energy, however electrons can only transition to a more excited state in discrete steps, (quanta).
The number of such steps occurring is countable by an appropriate measuring device, so from that perspective light is behaving more like a bunch of particles than a continuous wave.
GhostLoveScore said:What does that mean, that the photon is just a probability wave until it interacts with something?
A photon is a fundamental particle of light that carries energy and has no mass. It is the smallest unit of light and is often described as a "packet" of energy.
A photon is different from other components of light, such as electric and magnetic fields, because it is quantized and behaves both as a particle and a wave. It also has specific properties, including energy, frequency, and polarization.
A photon is created when an atom or molecule undergoes a transition from a higher energy state to a lower energy state. This can happen through a variety of processes, such as emission, absorption, or scattering.
Photons cannot be destroyed, as they are fundamental particles and do not have a physical structure that can be broken down. However, they can be absorbed by materials or converted into other forms of energy.
We can detect photons using various instruments, such as photodetectors, cameras, or telescopes. These devices are designed to measure the energy and properties of photons, such as their frequency, intensity, and direction of travel.