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Optics and Photonics Journal

Light: Duality or Discontinuity?

Weixing Xu

Published Jan 1, 2013• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Based on the perturbation theory of quantum mechanics, we found that the time for a system to absorb a photon is the period of the light wave. This result gives us an exact definition of a photon, that is, a photon is just a single period of light wave. Furthermore, the detail analysis of the emission and absorption of the light wave in a system tells us that the light wave is not continuous as we believed before but discontinuous instead. Based on this result, we elucidate the origin of the particle-wave duality of the light/electromagnetic wave.

DOI
10.4236/opj.2013.31016

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Based on the perturbation theory of quantum mechanics, we found that the time for a system to absorb a photon is the period of the light wave. This result gives us an exact definition of a photon, that is, a photon is just a single period of light wave. Furthermore, the detail analysis of the emission and absorption of the light wave in a system tells us that the light wave is not continuous as we believed before but discontinuous instead. Based on this result, we elucidate the origin of the particle-wave duality of the light/electromagnetic wave.
One of the most puzzling consequences of interpreting quantum mechanics in terms of concepts borrowed from classical physics, is the so-called wave-particle duality. Usually, wave-particle duality is illustrated in terms of complementarity between path distinguishability and fringe visibility in interference experiments. In this work, we instead propose a new type of complementarity, that between the continuous nature of waves and the discrete character of particles. Using the probabilistic methods of quantum field theory, we show that the simultaneous measurement of the wave amplitude and the number of photons in the same beam of light is, under certain circumstances, prohibited by the laws of quantum mechanics. Our results suggest that the concept of “interferometric duality'' could be eventually replaced by the more general one of “continuous-discrete duality''.
Quantum field theory describes the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation using the "photon," but has never explained why a fundamental particle exhibits such perfect wave behavior. This paper provides a complete alternative explanation: the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and antibunching experiments — landmark experiments considered proof of photon particle nature — require no photon concept. Quantization is not a property of light itself, but of the discrete energy level structure governing how bound electrons emit and absorb energy. Light remains a continuous transverse wave; discreteness results from electrons as "prisoners" in atomic "cages" that can only transition between specific energy steps. Waves propagate continuously and are emitted and absorbed in quantized form — the photon is not a particle, but the name of an energy-exchange event.
Why do photons exist? Classical physics gives a derivation, but can not explain the essence and strange properties of photons. Quantum theory suggests that photons are nonlocal particle and differ significantly from ordinary microscopic particles. However, no theory can provide a concrete image of the photon, which causes difficulties in the definition of a single photon. Photons can be obtained from light pulses, the number of which follows the Poisson distribution, and can also be defined from the light power, the photons is actually a kind of weakest light source.
Ever since behavior of photons were explained in terms of the matter-wave duality, mystery about the size of such a photon as it behaves like a particle has never slipped out from the scientific discussions. It is normally believed that the size of the photons is of the order of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. This paper addresses this scientific concern and attempts at opening the issue up for discussion after making a completely theoretical but consistent proposition. The argument presented here borrows the idea from the way particles have been conceptualized in quantum mechanics. In quantum mechanics it is argued that a particle gets represented not by a single wave but a group of waves in a way that the group velocity of such a group of waves exactly gives the velocity of the particle. Based on the same argument it is explained how the coherence length instead of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave, must estimate the linear dimension of a photon. In the end, the discussion on the size of a photon in view of the special theory of relativity is also initiated in this paper.
The wave-particle duality has been said to contain the entire mystery of quantum mechanics. Many delayed-choice experiments have been performed to further understand the wave-particle duality. Here, we reveal some flaws in the known interference theories by comparing the theoretical predictions with the experimental facts and show that the presence of media is a necessary condition for interference of single photons, a photon interferes with other photon via microscopic particles in the interface of media, and the wave-like property of a photon originates from interaction between the photon and media; the particle property is the inherent characteristic of a photon, and the wave-like behavior of a photon always accompanies the particle behavior; the coherent time of single photons cannot be longer than the lifetime of the polarized states of the microscopic particles. Interference of single photons is interpreted properly, and the conundrum of the wave-particle duality is well solved.
We describe electromagnetic energy as a follow up to the author’s THE ANTI-NEUTRON MODEL OF THE ATOM. See www.k1man.com/c2 We identify the exact source and reason for “quantum” in quantum mechanics. A radio wave is continuous emissions, while light, X, and gamma are discrete because of the sudden deceleration of the electrons (inside the atom) when quickly stopping and thus generating electromagnetic emissions as electrons change energy states within the atom or inside the nucleus. That would explain a lot! Those bursts of electromagnetic energy are the photon (Planck/Einstein) bundles of energy, quite different from a mostly continuous (but kind of sudden accelerations/decelerations at the positive and negative peaks) of radio waves. But how do the photons interfere with one another? And how do the photons diffract? Quite important is the general view of E = MC^2, which the author has disproved as a general law for ALL matter in www.k1man.com/c1 E = MC^2 is/might be approximate for annihilation, as described in www.k1man.com/c2 This new approach will better address the particle wave duality quantum mechanics mystery.