Can particles exist without duality?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of duality in physics, specifically wave-particle duality, and whether it serves a purpose in understanding the framework of reality. Participants explore the implications of duality in quantum mechanics and its relevance to scientific investigation, touching on theoretical and conceptual aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the existence of wave-particle duality, suggesting it may not be a valid concept in modern physics.
  • Others argue that the double slit experiment provides evidence for wave-particle duality, although this is contested by some who claim the results can be explained through statistics.
  • There is a call for deeper exploration into the reasons behind duality beyond the notion that "it is just the way it is."
  • Some participants express frustration with the limitations of current scientific models and the perceived inability to measure certain phenomena.
  • A participant mentions having a theory related to duality but feels discouraged from sharing it due to past experiences on the forum.
  • Concerns are raised about vague terminology and the implications of duality on scientific understanding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features significant disagreement regarding the validity and implications of wave-particle duality. Some participants assert it has been abandoned in modern physics, while others maintain it is still relevant, particularly in the context of the double slit experiment. No consensus is reached on the purpose or existence of duality.

Contextual Notes

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of quantum mechanics and the historical context of duality. There are references to the evolution of scientific understanding and the challenges of measuring quantum phenomena, but these points remain unresolved.

pittsburghjoe
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Does Duality serve any other purpose than preventing investigators from fully understanding the framework of our reality?
 
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What do you mean by "duality" here (there is more than on kind), or "framework of reality"?
Guess you could mean "wave particle duality", but there is no such thing outside secondary school, and pop sci tv shows (and sci fi).
Used to be a thing, it was an attempt to help investigators understand part of the physical world, and it actually did help investigators get that better understanding... aaand science moved on.
Still don't know what you mean by the other thing... and is the color of the text supposed to mean something?
 
Yes, wave particle duality. I want to know if there is a natural reason for it to exist.

The color thing is just an embarrassing mistake, I fixed it.

framework = being able to understand quantum fully ..without mystery
 
I just explained that "wave particle duality" does not exist... but maybe you are thinking of something else. What do you understand by this?

In general the natural reason for physical models to exist is that Nature behaves that way.
Unless you mean something else by "natural reason"... please be precise.
 
It doesn't exist? Did I miss a memo somewhere? Doesn't the double slit experiment prove that it does?

I'm asking to go deeper than "cause, that's just the way it is". Lots of things have a purpose, maybe this magical particle-wave has one other than driving scientist crazy for the last 100 years.
 
pittsburghjoe said:
Does Duality serve any other purpose than preventing investigators from fully understanding the framework of our reality?
Scientists make models which explain measurable things, then test them.
How is this preventing investigation of reality, have you a better idea?
 
They are not allowed to measure ..that's the problem.

I have a theory, but I'm scolded on this site whenever I mention it.
 
It doesn't exist? Did I miss a memo somewhere? Doesn't the double slit experiment prove that it does?
no it doesnt. the results are well understood using statistics.

I'm asking to go deeper than "cause, that's just the way it is". Lots of things have a purpose, maybe this magical particle-wave has one other than driving scientist crazy for the last 100 years.
... what do you mean by "purpose"? You keep using vague terms in non-standard contexts you can pseudoprove anything.

pittsburghjoe said:
They are not allowed to measure ..that's the problem.
nonsense... scientists are allowed to do any measurement they like... this is how scientific theories get support, or are disproved.

I have a theory, but I'm scolded on this site whenever I mention it.
... get it peer reviewed and published first, and you won't get scolded.
I suggest you learn how QM works first though.
 
Statistics that help you sleep at night ..even though you know it doesn't explain the real question.

purpose! Yes, like: "do I have a purpose in life?" I want some positive feadback on duality, cause the only thing I can think of is negative.

Yes, they can do the measurement and then let the quantum scale laugh in their face

Are you offering to review it? haha
 
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  • #10
pittsburghjoe said:
It doesn't exist? Did I miss a memo somewhere?
Apparently so - the notion of wave-particle duality was abandoned when the modern mathematical form of quantum mechanics was discovered in the 1920s. You won't find it in any textbook written in the past half-century or more, except perhaps as a historical footnote.
Doesn't the double slit experiment prove that it does?
No, as that experiment is also consistent with the modern formalism.

I'm asking to go deeper than "cause, that's just the way it is".
The way to do that is to work your through a serious textbook and learn what quantum mechanics really is.
 
  • #11
As those thread is based on mistaken assumptions about what the theory is and says, we can close it.
 

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