© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

New experiments and questions to shed light on the nature of a photon

Carl F. Maes

Published Oct 1, 2013• 0 citations

Abstract

Is the nature of light observed only indirectly after its interaction with matter? We currently lack an experimental technique which would isolate the nature of light without the use of matter i.e., a detector. We will present additional experiments which, although again indirect, may reveal new understandings (but mostly more questions) about the nature of light. This talk will not report research results, but rather be an invitation for others to conduct similar such measurements as will be proposed. Past measurements have measured no absorption of radiation in the dark fringe (concluding no light is present due to canceling of the fields). Does the radiation in a dark fringe cause stimulated emission? What are the photon statistics in a dark fringe?

DOI: 10.1117/12.2022057

Related papers

The Nature of Light

Gilbert Newton Lewis

The following views regarding the mode of transmission of light are of so unorthodox a character that I set them down with some reluctance; but it seems to be generally admitted that the paradox of quantum theory cannot be resolved without doing violence to one or more of our cherished common notions.Some of the consequences of the theory that I am going to advance are repugnant to common sense, yet, searching in vain for an alternative and finding no physical fact of optics or of thermodynamics in opposition to the theory, I have come to regard it as a natural and indeed inevitable extension of Einstein's principle of relativity.Let me start with two statemefits which seem now to be well supported by experiment, although perhaps not entirely demonstrated.They are, however, the postulates upon which the following theory is built.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences•Jan 1, 1926•106 citations

Revisiting the double-slit experiment of light: from wave theory to pulse theory

zhiwei lyu, Nan Lv, Tong Lyu

The double-slit interference experiment has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the wave theory of light. However, optical interference patterns are absent in everyday life, prompting many scientists to question the validity of the experiment under specific conditions. Until now, no experiments have definitively challenged this theory. Here, we revisit double-slit experiment through experimental validation. Results show that light and dark fringes are not caused by light wave interference, but rather by diffraction from vertical walls of the slits. This discovery challenges the conventional wave interference theory and presents a new perspective on the pulse nature of light, where overlapping spectra enhance energy without cancelation. This research offers novel insights into the nature of light and introduces new perspectives for optical research.

•Oct 21, 2024•0 citations

Revisiting the double-slit experiment of light: from wave theory to pulse theory

zhiwei lyu, Nan Lv, Tong Lyu

The double-slit interference experiment has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the wave theory of light. However, optical interference patterns are absent in everyday life, prompting many scientists to question the validity of the experiment under specific conditions. Until now, no experiments have definitively challenged this theory. Here, we revisit double-slit experiment through experimental validation. Results show that light and dark fringes are not caused by light wave interference, but rather by diffraction from vertical walls of the slits. This discovery challenges the conventional wave interference theory and presents a new perspective on the pulse nature of light, where overlapping spectra enhance energy without cancelation. This research offers novel insights into the nature of light and introduces new perspectives for optical research.

•Oct 22, 2024•0 citations

Experimental detection of photons emitted during inhibited spontaneous emission, The Nature of Light: What Are Photons?

David A. Branning, Alan L. Migdall, Paul G. Kwiat

•Jan 1, 2007•0 citations

Revisiting the double-slit experiment of light: from wave theory to pulse theory

zhiwei lyu, Nan Lv, Tong Lyu

The double-slit interference experiment has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the wave theory of light. However, optical interference patterns are absent in everyday life, prompting many scientists to question the validity of the experiment under specific conditions. Until now, no experiments have definitively challenged this theory. Here, we revisit double-slit experiment through experimental validation. Results show that light and dark fringes are not caused by light wave interference, but rather by diffraction from vertical walls of the slits. This discovery challenges the conventional wave interference theory and presents a new perspective on the pulse nature of light, where overlapping spectra enhance energy without cancelation. This research offers novel insights into the nature of light and introduces new perspectives for optical research.

•May 30, 2025•0 citations

Light emission problem in classical and quantum optics

Yuriy Akimov

Understanding of light emission is a keystone in mastering classical and quantum optics. We review and compare approaches used in these two fields for description of light emission to point out and clarify common misconceptions.

Education and Training in Optics and Photonics•Jun 30, 2022•0 citations

Is the nature of light observed only indirectly after its interaction with matter? We currently lack an experimental technique which would isolate the nature of light without the use of matter i.e., a detector. We will present additional experiments which, although again indirect, may reveal new understandings (but mostly more questions) about the nature of light. This talk will not report research results, but rather be an invitation for others to conduct similar such measurements as will be proposed. Past measurements have measured no absorption of radiation in the dark fringe (concluding no light is present due to canceling of the fields). Does the radiation in a dark fringe cause stimulated emission? What are the photon statistics in a dark fringe?

The following views regarding the mode of transmission of light are of so unorthodox a character that I set them down with some reluctance; but it seems to be generally admitted that the paradox of quantum theory cannot be resolved without doing violence to one or more of our cherished common notions.Some of the consequences of the theory that I am going to advance are repugnant to common sense, yet, searching in vain for an alternative and finding no physical fact of optics or of thermodynamics in opposition to the theory, I have come to regard it as a natural and indeed inevitable extension of Einstein's principle of relativity.Let me start with two statemefits which seem now to be well supported by experiment, although perhaps not entirely demonstrated.They are, however, the postulates upon which the following theory is built.

The double-slit interference experiment has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the wave theory of light. However, optical interference patterns are absent in everyday life, prompting many scientists to question the validity of the experiment under specific conditions. Until now, no experiments have definitively challenged this theory. Here, we revisit double-slit experiment through experimental validation. Results show that light and dark fringes are not caused by light wave interference, but rather by diffraction from vertical walls of the slits. This discovery challenges the conventional wave interference theory and presents a new perspective on the pulse nature of light, where overlapping spectra enhance energy without cancelation. This research offers novel insights into the nature of light and introduces new perspectives for optical research.

The double-slit interference experiment has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the wave theory of light. However, optical interference patterns are absent in everyday life, prompting many scientists to question the validity of the experiment under specific conditions. Until now, no experiments have definitively challenged this theory. Here, we revisit double-slit experiment through experimental validation. Results show that light and dark fringes are not caused by light wave interference, but rather by diffraction from vertical walls of the slits. This discovery challenges the conventional wave interference theory and presents a new perspective on the pulse nature of light, where overlapping spectra enhance energy without cancelation. This research offers novel insights into the nature of light and introduces new perspectives for optical research.

The double-slit interference experiment has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the wave theory of light. However, optical interference patterns are absent in everyday life, prompting many scientists to question the validity of the experiment under specific conditions. Until now, no experiments have definitively challenged this theory. Here, we revisit double-slit experiment through experimental validation. Results show that light and dark fringes are not caused by light wave interference, but rather by diffraction from vertical walls of the slits. This discovery challenges the conventional wave interference theory and presents a new perspective on the pulse nature of light, where overlapping spectra enhance energy without cancelation. This research offers novel insights into the nature of light and introduces new perspectives for optical research.