Quantum theory reveals astonishing and counterintuitive phenomena not found in classical physics, such as wave-particle duality, where entities like electrons and photons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behaviors. In this paper, we leverage advancements in quantum information science to gain new insights into this phenomenon. We specifically examine negative conditional entropy in quantum entanglement, where the selection of the measurement basis appears to ripple backward in time, akin to Dirac's model of an infinite sea of negative energy states filled with electrons, where holes in this sea appear as positrons. We propose that an observer's knowledge of the measurement choice, analogous to a hole in the negative information sea, corresponds to the wave aspect of the system, while the classical outcome aligns with its particle nature. This exploration of the relationship between microscopic quantum phenomena and macroscopic observations offers new perspectives on the mind-matter duality.
Quantum theory reveals astonishing and counterintuitive phenomena not found in classical physics, such as wave-particle duality, where entities like electrons and photons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behaviors. In this paper, we leverage advancements in quantum information science to gain new insights into this phenomenon. We specifically examine negative conditional entropy in quantum entanglement, where the selection of the measurement basis appears to ripple backward in time, akin to Dirac's model of an infinite sea of negative energy states filled with electrons, where holes in this sea appear as positrons. We propose that an observer's knowledge of the measurement choice, analogous to a hole in the negative information sea, corresponds to the wave aspect of the system, while the classical outcome aligns with its particle nature. This exploration of the relationship between microscopic quantum phenomena and macroscopic observations offers new perspectives on the mind-matter duality.
Abstract:Wave–particle duality remains one of the most conceptually challenging aspects of quantum mechanics. Standard interpretations describe the transition between wave-like and particle-like behavior through complementarity or measurement-induced collapse, but do not specify the underlying mechanism.This work proposes a new interpretation based on Informational Distinguishability (ID): a quantum system behaves as a wave when its possible micro-configurations or paths are informationally indistinguishable, and as a particle when environmental structure renders these configurations distinguishable. The transition corresponds to an informational compression rather than an observer-dependent collapse.The framework naturally explains interference disappearance, quantum erasers, delayed-choice phenomena, and upstream mode switching. It also yields falsifiable predictions, including quantitative thresholds of distinguishability and controlled partial-interference regimes.The model provides a unifying informational foundation for wave–particle behavior and suggests new directions in quantum foundations, measurement theory, and informational physics.
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 similarities between the hypothetical medium of light propagation, the aether, and the Dirac-type negative sea are discussed. In particular, it is argued that when the negative sea is identified as the observer's reference frame, it may be equivalent to the medium of light waves. In fact, this equivalence is related to the natural interpretation of the wave-particle duality where the light wave is propagating through the reference frame of the observer, i.e., the wave-like property, while the particle-like aspect is shown as the eigenvalue outcome of the measurement. This result lies within standard quantum theory, yet removes the weirdness of the wave-particle duality that existed previously.
Abstract Photon's dual nature, manifesting as both wave-like and particle-like behavior, is a phenomenon known as wave-particle duality and remains one of the most perplexing mysteries in quantum mechanics. In this work, we explore the relationships among the wave behavior, particle behavior, and entanglement of quantum states. We show the strong complementary relationships for bipartite isolated systems in terms of the generalized quantum entropic measures. This provides a measure-independent result going beyond all the existing complementary results based on specific measures. We further extend the results for non-isolated systems.
Wave-particle duality is widely regarded as one of the conceptual pillars of modern quantum theory, providing the framework through which the behavior of microscopic matter can be consistently interpreted. According to this principle, microscopic entities such as electrons, photons, atoms and even complex molecules exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties depending on the experimental configuration used to observe them. This duality is quantitatively formalized through the De Broglie relation, which associates a wavelength with any particle possessing momentum. The present work provides a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the physical and mathematical foundations of wave-particle duality, focusing particularly on the De Broglie wavelength and the kinetic energy of the electron in both non-relativistic and relativistic regimes. The connection between the De Broglie hypothesis and Schrödinger’s equation is discussed in detail, highlighting the role of the kinetic energy operator and the interpretation of matter waves in terms of quantum wave packets. Experimental evidence supporting the wave nature of matter, including electron diffraction experiments and interferometry techniques, is also reviewed. Beyond their conceptual importance, these principles underpin several modern technologies, including electron microscopy, nanoscale semiconductor devices and quantum metrology. The analysis demonstrates that the De Broglie relation provides a unifying framework connecting momentum, wavelength and kinetic energy, thereby forming a fundamental bridge between classical mechanics, quantum theory and modern technological applications.
This thesis is a study about the insights and challenges provided by the concept of wave-
particle duality for the understanding of physical entities. I specifically analyse the duality
claim of photons and the related interference phenomena. To begin, I explore several
notions of duality found in mathematics and various branches of science and present the
similarities and differences amidst them. After this, with regard to wave-particle duality of
radiation, I highlight the plurality associated with this concept based on a few important
interpretations of duality. I then focus on the wave-particle duality claim about photons
articulated in the context of two experiments: the anti-correlation experiment and photons’
behaviour in the Mach-Zehnder interferometer experiment. I argue that this claim can
neither be substantiated through the complementarity principle nor by claiming that
photons behave analogously to classical waves and particles. This detailed examination
of the experiments brings to the forefront yet another confusion about photons that
I subsequently evaluate. I discuss the controversy concerning the interpretation of the
interference phenomenon of photons and identify the sources of this confusion. Through
these arguments and conclusions drawn in this thesis, I demonstrate how philosophical
analysis is crucial for the understanding of scientific entities.