Questions tagged [wave-particle-duality]
Use this tag for questions relating to the "wave-nature of particles" or the "particle-nature of waves" as they are often discussed in quantum mechanics, where a single object has properties of both classical particles and classical waves.
806
questions
2
votes
1
answer
74
views
Does a particle still behave as a wave after being detected as a particle?
I just started learning about the intricacies of quantum mechanics in high school and aim to improve my understanding of the wave-particle duality of particles. I was wondering about different ...
- 29
-1
votes
1
answer
65
views
Does this explanation of wave-particle duality correspond with any existing formal explanation?
Imagine a tsunami wave. Out at sea, it slowly raises the water level not more than a few inches or feet, and passes by standing boats with barely any resultant turbulence. It moves very fast, but it's ...
- 109
-2
votes
2
answers
110
views
Could the double slit experiment demonstrate not that particles behave like waves, but that together particles behave as a wave? [closed]
Clearly particles individually pass through slits, be it a single or a double slit experiment. The fact that wave interference is evident in their trajectory may be due to their interaction upon ...
-1
votes
0
answers
59
views
Why does the formula that I provide derivation for contradict the de Broglie equation? [duplicate]
I'm trying to come up with a formula relating the wavelength of the electron and the potential difference that it was accelerated by. My derivation goes like this:
Let's say the electron is ...
0
votes
1
answer
69
views
Photocurrent in Photoelectric effect and its misconceptions
This question has been asked many times on this site before with different doubts in each question but I am conflicted with the vast amount of sources stating contradictory things.
There are many ...
- 196
0
votes
1
answer
155
views
De Broglie wavelength and the wave packets
Constructing a wave packet requires adding (superposing) many (if not infinite) plane waves of different wavevectors. A single plane wave has a well-defined wavelength, and hence, from de Broglie
$$p =...
- 69
0
votes
2
answers
91
views
Are particles and waves limits of quantum fields?
In quantum field theory we often hear that particles sometimes behave like waves and sometimes behave like particles.
In quantum field theory we say particles are fundamentally fields.
Is it correct ...
- 365
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why are particles still a thing? [closed]
Couldn't we just assume that waves have mass and momentum and can become localized? Dirac Deltas can be given a rigorous mathematical foundation but physicist do not use the Gelfand triple. Why not ...
- 63
6
votes
1
answer
111
views
Matter wave of macroscopic objects
By De-Broglie's hypothesis it can be said that every matter has a dual nature associated with it, and the relationship being:
$$\lambda = \frac{h}{p}$$
Now by applying this relation on a macroscopic ...
- 63
0
votes
1
answer
86
views
Distance between two slits in the double slit experiment
I was looking at some problem set in MIT QM course, and noticed the following problem:
Electrons of momentum $p$ fall normally on a pair of slits separated by a distance $d$. What is the distance, $w$...
- 103
0
votes
1
answer
194
views
What is the proper description of an electron?
Is it described by a trajectory with a spin $x^\mu(\tau)$, $S^\mu(\tau)$ OR a Grassmann-valued spinor field (i.e. the Dirac field a la path integral QFT) $\psi_a(x^\mu)$? If so, how are these two ...
1
vote
0
answers
23
views
Schrodinger's thought process about duality [duplicate]
How can a single particle be a wave?
Always thought wave is defined as back-and-forth motion for single particle, or we have many particles, wave should be as passing energy from one particle to ...
- 137
1
vote
2
answers
96
views
On the level of Newton's particle theory of light
Huygens and Maxwell have wave theories about light.
On the other hand Planck and Einstein have theories about particle nature of light and could explain blackbody radiation and photoelectric effect ...
- 1,325
0
votes
0
answers
59
views
How does shape of a wavefunction changes as it encounters a potential barrier?
A particle of mass and energy $E > 0$ in one dimension is scattered by the potential
below
If the particle was moving from $x = -\infty$ to $x= +\infty$, which of the following graphs gives
the ...
- 321
5
votes
5
answers
596
views
Does an electron pass through both slits in the double-slit experiment?
Double-slit experiment image source: Wikipedia
The double-slit experiment can be regarded as a demonstration that light and matter can display characteristics of both classically defined waves and ...
- 583
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
Davisson-Germer experiment
Davisson and Germer's experiment confirmed the wave-particle duality of matter.
In this experiment a slowed down electron beam is reflected by the surface of a nickel crystal, which is able to split ...
- 101
0
votes
0
answers
14
views
Intensity of Light and Photoelectric effect [duplicate]
If we shine a light that has less energy than the work function energy of the electron of an atom on a metal, the electron is not released but excited and electron gives off this excess energy as heat ...
- 133
1
vote
0
answers
52
views
The relationship between the group velocity $v_{g}$ and the wave vector $k$?
I know from my quantum mechanics course that the moving particle moves with the group velocity of the wave packet $v_{g}$ and I also Know that the momentum of the particle is $\hbar k=p$
so it implies ...
- 587
3
votes
2
answers
156
views
In the double slit experiment, when emitting one photon at a time, why don't all of them travel the same path?
If we fire one photon at a time, why don't all of the photons hit the barrier exactly in between the two slits? How come each photon goes in different directions? (some go through top slit, some go ...
- 139
1
vote
5
answers
2k
views
Why when not observed in the double slit experiment, do we see light in places we do not see light when observed?
The double slit experiment with a single electron provides a different result when observed and when unobserved. When unobserved we see an interference pattern, and when observed we just see 2 lines. ...
- 121
1
vote
2
answers
90
views
How does dual nature of matter affect collision at the quantum level?
I have a question suppose having two fundamental particles collide which each other at the quantum scale , then what will the collision behave as
Will the particle nature be dominant and make sure to ...
- 431
0
votes
1
answer
84
views
Is $∫ (1/2)εE^2 dV$ in the entire volume of rays propagation $= nhf$? [closed]
I asked it on ChatGPT but it gave kind of a mixed answer contradicting itself in the process several times here is some of it.
"Kushagra Singh:
~so you mean $∫ (1/2)εE^2 dV$ in the entire volume ...
- 19
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
Particle / wave based on an observation? [duplicate]
If light is a wave, why does it appear to behave like a particle when observed in the double slit?
Are we saying consciousness is definitely affecting reality?
Much appreciated!
- 13
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
Wave-particle duality or particle-wave duality
Is there a difference between { a particle that acts as a wave} & { a wave that acts as a particle} ??
Ex: when u consider electrons, they have a specific mass and an inconstant velocity, but when ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
411
views
De broglie wavelength derivation
I am learning about De Broglie wavelength. I am in high school so nothing too complicated.
For a research presentation I have been asked to derive the equation for de Broglie wavelength. Online I have ...
- 171
0
votes
2
answers
33
views
Is it possible for photons to have different energy and same momenta if they are emitted by bichromatic light source in all directions?
Suppose photons are emitted by a bichomatics source of light in all directions. Is it possible that two photons are present having different energy but same momenta ?
2
votes
1
answer
204
views
Why do we treat particles as standing waves in QP?
The Quantum Physics course I am taking starts with the Classical Wave Equation and a statement that we treat quantum particles as standing waves.
The explanation they give is that most of the time ...
16
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Why does the Heisenberg uncertainty principle apply to particles?
This might be a slightly naive question, and if so I apologize, but I am currently a little confused as to why the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle should apply to particles, i.e. our system (say an ...
- 239
2
votes
2
answers
623
views
Why does de Broglie wavelength work?
The equation is $\lambda=h/(mv)$.
I am currently learning electron diffraction and have learnt about how de Broglie studied on the wave-particle duality of matter such as electrons.
We were given the ...
- 37
1
vote
1
answer
77
views
Objection to interpretation of quantum mechanical wave function being wave
I am currently studying Quantum mechanics (first time) from Ballentine's book. In Chapter 4, he objects the idea of associating wave functions, which are solutions of Schrödinger equation in position ...
- 62
4
votes
2
answers
204
views
What exactly is meant by "a wave is 'associated' with a particle" in De Broglie hypothesis?
Im just referring to the basic De-Broglie hypothesis, which says that a wave of certain wavelength is 'associated' with the particle.
Is the particle itself moving in a wavy motion?
OR
Is there a ...
- 1,325
2
votes
0
answers
59
views
Is there actually such a thing as a particle in free space, or do particles only arise when quantum fields interact with each other?
If I understand correctly, the math of wave/particle duality is just that the wavefunctions that we get from solving the Schrödinger equation are specifically standing waves, with quantized properties ...
- 2,183
1
vote
3
answers
79
views
Difference between a quantum wavefunction and a wave
When reading about quantum wavefunctions, I understood that different subshells have different "shapes" of orbitals, which describe the probability density of the electron. The orbital "...
- 155
2
votes
1
answer
64
views
Is inverse quantum confinement possible?
In the "Particle in a Box" thought experiment/analogy, the reduction in volume of a cavity enclosing a particle will lead to an increase in the bandgaps energy levels that simulate that of ...
- 467
0
votes
2
answers
68
views
Photoelectric current dependency on frequency of incident light [duplicate]
I recently came across a doubt in the photoelectric effects topic, and It wasn't cleared even after researching,
The doubt is, that when we increase the frequency of incident rays, current is ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
Why does an electron "orbiting" an atomic nucleus have to be described as a standing wave? [duplicate]
"However, if one describes the electron by a matter wave, a stationary state of the atom in which the electron does not leave the atom must include a standing wave." Why?
- 11
2
votes
3
answers
215
views
What makes an object a detector in QM?
By introducing a detector in one path of a Mach Zehnder MZI the state of a photon is changed from superposition in both paths to a particle. But what can serve as a detector?
For example, an ...
- 579
1
vote
0
answers
39
views
Is a particle's wavelength the upper bound of its size?
It occurred to me that if the radius of an electron was bigger than its wavelength this might pose a problem. If a particle's radius exceeded its wavelength how would you describe this situation? ...
- 764
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
No interference in double-slit experiment when slits are very close?
In the video down below Stephen Wolfram says that we see the interference in the double-slit experiment because the slits are too far away from each other. I suppose it means there should be no ...
- 3
2
votes
1
answer
58
views
How exactly does wavefunction of an electron change when it ceases being part of an atom?
This is a followup of How are electrons really moving in an atom?
As it happens, reading answers to that question I, instead of understanding more, lost some of my previous understanding.
Particularly,...
- 513
0
votes
1
answer
53
views
Can we measure a lower limit of the velocity with which a quantum mechanical wave function collapses?
According to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, a wave function collapses immediately and everywhere. This seems to imply that this happens at an infinite velocity. However, if the ...
- 55
1
vote
2
answers
109
views
Do fields and particles have a one-to-one correspondence?
Do fields and particles have a one-to-one correspondence? That is can we have two different particle from same field (excitation) or can one unique particle gets created by different field (excitation)...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
96
views
Anyone aware of a double, double slit experiment? [closed]
Is anyone aware of a double, double-slit experiment?
Where for example we can see that light and matter display characteristics of both classically defined waves and then classicly defined particles ...
2
votes
1
answer
165
views
When does the distribution change in interference/which way measurements compared to the time of the type change of the measurement?
Does anyone know of any experiments that have looked at the temporal relationships of this?
Measurements that show the dual nature of the particle/wave are well known. The fundamental feature of which ...
1
vote
1
answer
65
views
Is there a function that describes how a collapsed wavefunction (particle or delta function?) is restored back into a wave?
The moment an electron is observed (interaction), the electron takes on particle properties, but it is thought that it will recover its wave properties over time.
Even if an electron becomes an ...
- 117
1
vote
0
answers
53
views
Newtonian view on light as particles
In an article about Eddington’s light-bending project 1919 (Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences Vol. 11, No. 1, 1980) Earman and Glymore commented on the results which was in turn responded ...
- 331
2
votes
1
answer
76
views
Shouldn't the velocity of the wave associated with a particle be equal to the velocity of the particle?
If a free particle of mass $m$ is moving with a velocity $v$, then it's kinetic energy is $\frac{mv^2}{2}$, therefore its frequency is $\nu = \frac{E}{h} = \frac{mv^2}{2h}$ where $h$ is Planck's ...
1
vote
3
answers
139
views
Why do diffraction limits exist?
My question does not deal with standard derivations of diffraction. I have no doubt that I can follow standard derivations for diffraction phenomena. Actually, I have probably been shown these before, ...
- 248
1
vote
0
answers
104
views
Feynman's view about light
Professor Feynman, in his “QED: The strange theory of light and matter”, states at page 15:
“I want to emphasize that light comes in this form - particles. It is very important to know that light ...
- 31
6
votes
3
answers
725
views
Is the wave nature of electron just its probability wave or something more?
Light is said to act like both wave and particle. When we talk about an electron we say it's a particle and the wave portion is just its probability and not a physical wave like light.
So is there ...
- 73