A question about discreteness of light

[Deepak K Kapur]

A stream of light is said to be discrete and not continuous because it consists of packets of energy called photons.

Is there any space between the constituent photons of light? If not, isn't this also a continuity in its own sense?

 

[jtbell]

Is there any space between the constituent photons of light?

This is not a meaningful question, because photons are not defined as having any particular spatial location or extent. They are not a spatial subdivision of a "chunk" of light, but instead, a subdivision in terms of energy.

 

[Deepak K Kapur]

This is not a meaningful question, because photons are not defined as having any particular spatial location or extent. They are not a spatial subdivision of a "chunk" of light, but instead, a subdivision in terms of energy.

Thanks for the answer.

1. If 'particular spatial location' does not even apply to photons, doesn't this also indirectly imply the continuity of light.

2. When the particle nature of light is studied (photons ejecting/exciting electrons etc.), we can even count the number of photons. Can't we say that photons have 'spacial extent' in this case.