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Wave-Particle Duality

Wave-particle duality states that light and matter both exhibit properties of waves and of particles, and is the central concept behind quantum mechanics. The debate over the nature of waves and particles dates back to Isaac Newton, but was fairly well established by Einstein that a duality exists. The wave-particle duality is only detectable on small nano scales, like within atoms.

The study of electrons and their function in electricity led to the modern debate that began the wave-particle theory. Electrons, scientists believed, were particles. Light was a wave. But in 1905, Einstein showed that light also possesses some properties that only particles have; he named light "particles" photons. He was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his theory of photoelectric effect. Later, electrons were diffracted by De Brogli, showing that they have some wave-like properties.

Science was thrown into an uproar until the theories of quantum mechanics helped establish the duality: all matter can behave as either a wave or a particle depending on the circumstances. The Schroedinger equation determines how each particle behaves in a given situation. Wavelength, not energy or frequency, determines how particle-waves will affect other particle-waves. Large objects like visible dust particles and humans have a very short wavelength, therefore do not obviously behave as waves.

Web Resources On Wave-Particle Duality

Particle or Wave?
Wave-Particle Duality

Book Resources On Wave-Particle Duality

Newton to Einstein: The Trail of Light : An Excursion to the Wave-Particle Duality and the Special Theory of Relativity by Ralph Baierlein
Wave-Particle Duality by Franco Selleri (Ed)

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