A Snapshot in Time of a Photon

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The discussion revolves around the existence of photons in relation to time and motion, questioning whether photons can exist at a single instant or require the flow of time. Participants explore the idea that motion is relative and not an intrinsic property, suggesting that a photon may need other objects to define its existence. The concept of quantum superposition is introduced, indicating that photons exist in a state of superposition regardless of their interactions. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the complexities of defining existence in quantum mechanics and the challenges of applying classical concepts to photons. The topic remains speculative and is not definitively answerable within the framework of current scientific understanding.
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I'm not sure if there's a satisfying answer to this question, but I'd at least like to incite some discussion.

I haven't had a formal education about photons or quantum mechanics, so all I know is what I've read about outside the classroom, but a buddy and I have been talking about them, as we've reached electromagnetic waves in our EM class. I know that a photon travels through space the way a wave would, but also exhibits particle-like properties (I've read up on the double slit experiment).

Imagine we have a traveling photon. If we could freeze time, or just take a snapshot of an instant in time, would that photon still exist? Do photons exist in individual instants? Or do they need the progression of instants (the flow of time) to exist?

I suppose I could ask this question of absolutely anything, but the photon is what came up in conversation, I think because it seems to me currently like an intrinsic property of a photon is its motion.
 
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A photon has a well defined wavefunction at any instant of time. Furthermore, given the photon's wavefunction at any instant of time you can calculate its wavefunction at any other time.
 
LikesIntuition said:
Imagine we have a traveling photon. If we could freeze time, or just take a snapshot of an instant in time, would that photon still exist? Do photons exist in individual instants? Or do they need the progression of instants (the flow of time) to exist?

Does anything exist during an "instant" of time? Is this question even answerable? I'm not sure it is.

I suppose I could ask this question of absolutely anything, but the photon is what came up in conversation, I think because it seems to me currently like an intrinsic property of a photon is its motion.

Motion is something that can only be said to occur when comparing one object to another. It is not an intrinsic property of anything as far as I know.
 
DaleSpam said:
A photon has a well defined wavefunction at any instant of time. Furthermore, given the photon's wavefunction at any instant of time you can calculate its wavefunction at any other time.

Ah that's a good point. Thanks!
 
Drakkith said:
Motion is something that can only be said to occur when comparing one object to another. It is not an intrinsic property of anything as far as I know.

What if the thing requires the presence of other things in the universe in order to exist? I'm not saying this is true of a photon, but couldn't there be something for which this is true? If that were the case, it seems like motion relative to other objects could be an intrinsic property of something, doesn't it?
 
LikesIntuition said:
What if the thing requires the presence of other things in the universe in order to exist? I'm not saying this is true of a photon, but couldn't there be something for which this is true?

This isn't an answerable question. You're asking about something that would require nothing else to exist in order to find out if its true, and in which case we couldn't know anyways since we wouldn't exist. This isn't how science works.

If that were the case, it seems like motion relative to other objects could be an intrinsic property of something, doesn't it?

It's not the case according to mainstream science.

Be aware that you're pretty far off into speculation land. I'd advise re-reading the rules so your thread doesn't get locked for speculating.
 
Drakkith said:
This isn't an answerable question. You're asking about something that would require nothing else to exist in order to find out if its true, and in which case we couldn't know anyways since we wouldn't exist. This isn't how science works.

I'm not sure this is completely applicable, and I'm by no means an expert on quantum mechanics, but does a photon need other things to be present in order to exist in a classical sense (so, in a defined state)? If nothing existed for a photon (or maybe any given thing) to interact with, wouldn't it be in some kind of state of quantum superposition?
 
LikesIntuition said:
I'm not sure this is completely applicable, and I'm by no means an expert on quantum mechanics, but does a photon need other things to be present in order to exist in a classical sense (so, in a defined state)? If nothing existed for a photon (or maybe any given thing) to interact with, wouldn't it be in some kind of state of quantum superposition?

I think you would have to say that it doesn't exist 'in the classical sense'. It is not a classical object. It really isn't like anything else you have come across in mechanistic Science and you cannot impose your intuitive rules on it. Bummer - but there it is.
 
LikesIntuition said:
I'm not sure this is completely applicable, and I'm by no means an expert on quantum mechanics, but does a photon need other things to be present in order to exist in a classical sense (so, in a defined state)? If nothing existed for a photon (or maybe any given thing) to interact with, wouldn't it be in some kind of state of quantum superposition?
It is always in a state of quantum superposition. Even if it is in an eigenstate of one basis it is in superposition in another basis. That has nothing to do with the presence or absence of other objects.
 
  • #10
DaleSpam said:
It is always in a state of quantum superposition. Even if it is in an eigenstate of one basis it is in superposition in another basis. That has nothing to do with the presence or absence of other objects.

Is that true? I would have thought that the wave function must relate to the source that generated it (directivity etc). Also, until it has been detected, what can you say about the photon that's definite? So at both ends, 'something else' has to be involved.
 
  • #11
I am not sure what you are asking here.

The concept of superposition is a consequence of the fact that wavefuctions are vectors which can be represented in a variety of basis sets. It applies for any wavefunction regardless of how it was created, how many particles it consists of, and how you might plan to measure it.
 
  • #12
sophiecentaur said:
Is that true? I would have thought that the wave function must relate to the source that generated it (directivity etc). Also, until it has been detected, what can you say about the photon that's definite? So at both ends, 'something else' has to be involved.

That sounds like the intuition I was going off of as well...
 
  • #13
LikesIntuition said:
Imagine we have a traveling photon. If we could freeze time, or just take a snapshot of an instant in time, would that photon still exist?.

You are asking that a photon traveling with a speed will exist in zero time interval ?
There are two conditions
i.) Photon is a form of energy(it does not have mass). Means it has speed(without mass). In zero time interval, it has zero speed.
Answer: Photon will not exist.

ii.) I think Photon have mass because it is not traveling with infinite speed. Means in zero time interval, it has zero speed but have mass.
Answer: Photon will exist.
 
  • #14
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