Klevgard, Paul A.
(2021)
Is the photon really a particle?
Optik International Journal for Light and Electron Optics, 237.
ISSN 0030-4026
Abstract
Photons deliver their energy and momentum to a point on a material target. It is commonplace to attribute this to particle impact. But since the in-flight photon also has a wave nature, we are stuck with the paradox of wave-particle duality. It is argued here that the photon’s wave nature is indisputable, but its particle nature is open to question.
Photons deliver energy. The problem with invoking impact as a means of delivery is that energy becomes a payload which in turn requires a particle. This assumes that energy is always a payload and there is but one mode of energy delivery; surely two unsupported assumptions.
It should be possible to explain photon termination without invoking particle impact. One approach offered here is to question the assumption that the photon is a unitary object. Perhaps the photon has two linked-but-distinct identities: one supporting wave behavior and the other supporting discrete behavior. It is the latter that might imitate particle impact. Supporting video at: https://youtu.be/A1Wabkr0YFE
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Is the photon really a particle? (deposited 21 May 2021 02:12)
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