Waves vs Particles
Cecil Moore wrote:
K7ITM wrote:
I was asked for references. I would suggest as a starting point
Richard P. Feynman's lecture of April 3, 1962, which was an
introduction to quantum behavior. I think the whole of the lecture is
worthwhile, but especially the following paragraph:
In Feynman's introductory lecture number 1, he
says: "I want to emphasize that light comes in
this form - *particles*." Also: "... light is
made of *particles*." emphasis mine
Feynman's lecture number 2 is titled
"Photons" *Particles* of Light" He says:
"Quantum electrodynamics 'resolves' this wave-
particle duality by saying that light is made
of *particles*, ..." emphasis mine
If I understand it correctly, a cornerstone
concept of QED is that nothing exists except
particles.
Cecil, get Feynman's _Lectures on Physics_ Volume I, and
read the entirety of Chapter 38, "The Relation of Wave and
Particle Viewpoints." Quantum mechanics is a very successful attempt,
using statistical methods, to explain the behavior of very small things.
In order to do that, it has to look at those things in very strange
ways. If you want to read about the philosophical underpinnings
you should read chapter 8 of _Quantum Theory_
by David Bohm (a Dover reprint).
73,
Tom Donaly, KA6RUH
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