This paper deals with J. A. Wheeler's proposal that each piece of reality owes its existence to observation-an approach to physics, which implies that all physical entities at their bottom are informational in character. Focusing on the double-slit experiment with photons, which is the key evidence for the wave-particle dualism of photons, this paper follows Wheeler's observational approach and interprets this experiment as a question posed to nature. Considering how the enquiry regarding the wave-particle duality of photons is answered by nature, it is shown that experimental questions are being answered by nature in the form of spatiotemporal patterns of elementary observations (EOs) which are binary pieces of information, produced by the dissipation of energy. Working through this line of thought, Wheeler's statements of "binary information gain", "observer participance" and the "impossibility of continuum idealizations of physical laws" are elucidated and connections to the Landauer Principle are made.
This paper deals with J. A. Wheeler's proposal that each piece of reality owes its existence to observation-an approach to physics, which implies that all physical entities at their bottom are informational in character. Focusing on the double-slit experiment with photons, which is the key evidence for the wave-particle dualism of photons, this paper follows Wheeler's observational approach and interprets this experiment as a question posed to nature. Considering how the enquiry regarding the wave-particle duality of photons is answered by nature, it is shown that experimental questions are being answered by nature in the form of spatiotemporal patterns of elementary observations (EOs) which are binary pieces of information, produced by the dissipation of energy. Working through this line of thought, Wheeler's statements of "binary information gain", "observer participance" and the "impossibility of continuum idealizations of physical laws" are elucidated and connections to the Landauer Principle are made.
The paper deals with J. A. Wheeler´s proposal [1] that each piece of reality owes its existence due to observation - an approach to physics which implies that all physical entities at their bottom are informational in character. Focusing on the double-slit experiment with photons, which is the key evidence for the wave-particle dualism of photons, the paper follows Wheeler´s observational approach and interprets this experiment as a question posed to nature. Considering how the enquiry regarding the wave-particle duality of photons is answered by nature, it is shown that experimental questions are being answered by nature in the form of spatiotemporal patterns of elementary observations (EOs) which are binary pieces of information, produced by the dissipation of energy. Working through this line of thought, Wheeler´s statements of “binary information gain”, “observer participance”, and the “impossibility of continuum idealizations of physical laws” are elucidated and connections to the Landauer Principle being made. It is further shown that the wave-particle dualism of photons involves a dilemma of incompatible forms of existence, a problem which can be resolved by a discontinuous form of photon propagation in which photons repeatedly materialize and annihilate while being forward-shifted in space by finite distances equivalent to half the photon wavelength.
Here, the concept of a wave-particle duality is questioned. First, the experimental proofs existing, respectively, for particles and waves are examined. In the case of particles, no experimental evidence can be found which establishes them; it seems that particles have always been taken for granted. In the case of waves, considerable evidence has accumulated with results on diffraction, interference, and self-interference of larger and larger objects. Then an important remark is made concerning the fact that unlike particles, waves are not observation-dependent: waves existed before observation otherwise the patterns of diffraction or interference would not have been appearing; the wave nature does not depend on the making of a measurement, there is no measurement problem for waves. Consequently, since waves are not observation-dependent, if the objects are demonstrated to be waves, they are only waves. This fact, along with some other evidence, disagrees with the current interpretation of the Wheeler-type delayed-choice experiments, where the absence of interference is interpreted as a particle behavior. Finally, recent works regarding the de Broglie‐Bohm theory are presented, which lead to suggest a new wave-only version of this theory. It is concluded that a wave-only view might be worth considering instead of the wave-particle duality view which has prevailed so far.
Abstract The double-slit experiment is a classic experiment that presents the clearest manifestation of wave-particle duality, one of the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. The double-slit experiment still remains the phenomenon that demonstrates wave-particle duality at the most fundamental level. This phenomenon quantitatively and conceptually demonstrates that microscopic objects can behave like both waves and particles at the same time. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the physical nature of dualism, the mechanism of formation of the interference pattern, and the impact of the act of observation on the dynamics of quantum systems. The need for a new perspective on this topic is due to the fact that the current uncertainty in the interpretation of quantum reality has not yet been completely eliminated, and the boundaries between classical and quantum behavior in microscopic objects are still being explored. The results presented here restructure the deep mechanisms of the interference picture, more clearly frame the relationship between observation and wavefunction collapse, and provide a quantum. Since the article attempts to provide a complete answer to the mechanism of the formation of wave-particle duality, extensive space is given to sections such as historical development, theoretical models, modern research, etc. New approaches to this phenomenon have been developed using modern research and string theory. As a result, a new mathematical expression has been proposed that explains the reasons for the initial emergence of wave-particle duality, and is also important for string theory. The article explains the measurement problem with a more effective physical structure and ontological model.
The problem of wave-particle duality is considered within the framework of the algebraic approach. Contrary to the widespread belief, we demonstrate that wave-particle duality can be reconciled with the assumption that there exists some local physical reality determining the results of local measurements. A number of quantum experiments—double-slit electron scattering, Wheeler’s delayed choice experiment, the past of photons passed through the interferometer—are discussed using the concept of locality. A clear physical interpretation of these experiments that does not contradict classical concepts is provided.
This paper reviews humanity's understanding of photons, the evolution of quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics (QED), and analyzes their physical interpretations and philosophical implications. It attempts to uncover the true nature of photons by exploring possible hidden variables in the double-slit experiment. The wave-particle duality of photons, as posited by quantum mechanics, appears to me to lack verisimilitude. By designing a thought experiment involving a photon double-slit setup, I seek to falsify the notion that photons generate coherence, or so-called wave-function superposition, within the light field between the slits and the screen. This endeavour aims to demonstrate the pure particle nature of photons. This paper further explores the intrinsic relationship between electromagnetic waves and photons by examining the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. It posits that electromagnetic waves are fundamentally pure particle-waves. An analysis of QED elucidates the potential influence of photon momentum on photon interactions, an effect that could have profound implications for quantum information transmission. This paper explores the non-wave-particle duality of photons through the double-slit experiment and the double-slit observer experiment. The essence of photons is purely particle-like. The thought experiment of the photon double-slit experiment is pivotal in demonstrating that photons and other particles—such as electrons, atoms, and macromolecules—are purely particulate in nature. Moreover, in space, photons can interfere with each other's paths based on their momentum. This can simultaneously alter the trajectory of photons and even modify their velocity. That is to say, a photon beam possessing greater momentum may carry along a portion of photon beams with lesser momentum, propagating them over considerable distances. The wavelength of a light wave fundamentally represents the distance between consecutive photons as they queue and advance through space. A longer wavelength corresponds to a greater distance between photons, causing them to diverge more widely in space, as seen with radio waves. Conversely, a shorter wavelength implies closer proximity between photons, resulting in denser emission and a highly directional nature, as seen in gamma rays. Photons within the visible spectrum may occasionally transmit information bearing specific content. This information, conveyed via photons, can propagate over distances ranging from several metres to thousands of kilometres.
Recently, Nature magazine made a survey about how Physicists think of what quantum mechanics says about reality. The survey shows that 47% of respondents consider the wavefunction in the quantum mechanics representing simply a useful tool, and 36% respondents consider the wavefunction representing something real. In this article we show that the double slit experiments support the opinion of 47% of respondents. It is the standard understanding that the double slit experiment shows that the light is waves, not particles. The photoelectric experiment shows that the light is particles. The two experiments show the conceptually different natures of the light and thus led to the wave-particle duality of the light. To thoroughly study the real nature of the light in the double slit experiments, we utilizing the Photon-chamber, Shield, Blocker, Lenses and Metal tubes respectively. We observed the following phenomena in the same double slit experiments: the light is photons, not waves; and it is the photons that produce both the non-interference patterns in Zone-0, Zong-1 and Zone-2, and the interference patterns in Zone-3. We suggest that the observed phenomena: (1) invalidate the wave-particle duality; (2) show that the wavefunction is simply a useful mathematical tool to describe the wave phenomena in Zone-3; (3) show that the wavefunction cannot be utilized to describe the no-wave phenomena in Zone-0, Zong-1 and Zone-2; (4) support the particle reality of quantum mechanics.