Light Grainy? Photons or Stream of Energy?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the nature of light, specifically whether a single beam of light can be observed as individual photons or as a continuous stream of energy. Participants reference Richard Feynman's Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) lectures, which describe light as grainy and comparable to rain. It is established that with a sufficiently weak light source, individual photons can be detected, reinforcing the concept of wave-particle duality in light behavior.

PREREQUISITES
  • Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) principles
  • Wave-particle duality of light
  • Photon detection methods
  • Basic understanding of light as electromagnetic radiation
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  • Explore Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and its implications on light behavior
  • Research photon detection techniques, such as single-photon detectors
  • Study wave-particle duality in depth, focusing on light and its properties
  • Investigate the relationship between light intensity and photon emission rates
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Physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the fundamental properties of light and its behavior in various contexts.

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Ive read a few things about light and have a curiosity. If i had a single beam of light and somehow were able to zoom in close enough on this beam would i see individual photons? or would i see a stream of energy? Thank You
 
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snackster17 said:
Ive read a few things about light and have a curiosity. If i had a single beam of light and somehow were able to zoom in close enough on this beam would i see individual photons? or would i see a stream of energy? Thank You

yes it's grainy,

in the QED lectures Feynman said that light is like rain

if you get a very very weak source of light, then you can record a single photon of light at a time, for example
 
thank you for the reply. Does this not all go back to the wave-particle duality though? because i read that light is also a wave frequency? perhaps the term photons and light are a bit unclear?
 

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