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Is the photon really a particle?

Klevgard, Paul A. (2021) Is the photon really a particle? Optik International Journal for Light and Electron Optics, 237 (166679). ISSN 0030-4026

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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.

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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Klevgard, Paul A.pklevgard@gmail.com
Additional Information: Version 1a submitted. Available online March 6, 2021. Print version in July 2021 issue.
Keywords: wave-particle duality; photon; dualism; radiation, kinetic energy
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Dr. Paul Klevgard
Date Deposited: 28 Nov 2021 19:31
Last Modified: 28 Nov 2021 19:31
Item ID: 19840
Journal or Publication Title: Optik International Journal for Light and Electron Optics
Publisher: Elsevier
Official URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...
DOI or Unique Handle: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2021.166679
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: July 2021
Volume: 237
Number: 166679
ISSN: 0030-4026
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19840

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