The discussion revolves around the concept of particle-wave duality in quantum mechanics, specifically addressing whether electrons exist as particles orbiting the nucleus of an atom or if they are better described by a wavefunction representing probabilities of their locations. The scope includes theoretical interpretations of quantum mechanics, the nature of particles and waves, and implications for understanding fermions and bosons.
Participants express differing views on the nature of electrons and the validity of wave-particle duality. There is no consensus on whether electrons can be considered to orbit the nucleus as particles or if they are better described by their wavefunctions. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing interpretations.
Participants highlight limitations in understanding due to classical intuitions conflicting with quantum mechanics, and there are unresolved questions regarding the implications of wavefunctions and the nature of observation in quantum theory.
cbd1 said:I agree that the energy in photons has a mass equivalence, which will curve space. But, there is no evidence that photons are accelerated by gravity. A photon shot directly away from a gravitational field will never lose velocity due gravitational acceleration. If it were a particle with rest mass, like an electron, it would; but it is not. This shows that a wave does not have weight.
cbd1 said:Why then do we not get an interference pattern when the slits are observed? There are different results to the two-slit experiment if we observe the slits and if we do not observe the slits. This seems to me direct evidence that quantum objects behave differently depending on if they are observed or not.