Wave-particle duality question

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of wave-particle duality, specifically questioning whether light could be considered as discrete bursts of a wave rather than particles. User Dave proposes that light might be emitted in short bursts of high-amplitude waves, but Zz counters this by explaining that such bursts would produce a range of frequencies due to the Fourier Transform, contradicting the definition of a photon, which has a single frequency. The conversation highlights the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and the necessity of understanding the implications of wave-particle duality.

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  • Understanding of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics
  • Familiarity with Fourier Transform and its implications
  • Knowledge of photon characteristics and definitions
  • Basic concepts of light behavior in physics experiments
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of Fourier Transform on waveforms
  • Research the characteristics of photons and their behavior in quantum mechanics
  • Explore the historical experiments demonstrating wave-particle duality, such as the double-slit experiment
  • Review the FAQ on wave-particle duality in the General Physics forum
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Students of physics, educators explaining quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the foundational concepts of light behavior and wave-particle duality.

davepl
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Brace yourself for another banal question, but...

All the explanations I've read that introduce the wave/particle duality start by saying it has to be wave (the light-slit interference experiment) and that light arrives in discrete quantums (the photo electric effect, etc).

None of the "analogy style" explanations cover why light couldn't just be a wave that's always emitted only in discrete "bursts" of a wave. So instead of a particle, you get discrete little bursts of a wave, say one peak-to-peak at the expected wavelength.

Since I doubt I'm about to overturn physics with this ingenious postulate, I assume there are lots of good experiments and reasons why the characteristics that cause people to attribute particle properties to a photon couldn't be explained by it being a short burst of a high-amplitude wave... but can anyone give me an example or explanation?

Thanks!
Dave
 
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Try getting a "short burst of high-amplitude wave". Now do a Fourier Transform out of it. Whoa Nellie, there's a bunch of other frequencies associated with that "short burst"! It is no longer monochromatic, or not even close! The shorter you make the pulse, the more the higher order frequencies that will start to appear. Yet, a photon, by definition, has only 1 frequency. This means that your scenario here is inconsistent with what you are trying to fit into.

You may want to first read our FAQ in the General Physics forum regarding this so-called "duality".

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=104715

Zz.
 

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