User:Ldm1954/Sandbox/Duality
Concept in quantum mechanics / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wave–particle duality is the concept in quantum mechanics that quantum entities can have both particle and a wave properties. Classical waves are familiar in many systems, for instance water on a lake. Classical particles are also common, for instance projectiles from a gun. Classical mechanics is determinism, in other words if we know the position, velocity and force on a particle at some given instant then we know where it will be later. The same holds for classical waves. In contrast, quantum systems can exhibit either or both wave or particle behavior.[1] They not deterministic, and can only be understood through statistical probabilities.[2] This can be a disturbing view, for instance the famous quote by Albert Einstein[3]
God does not play dice.
to which Niels Bohr once responded[3]
Einstein, stop telling God what to do.
This article will discuss part of the historical origins which led to the concept of duality, some of the key experimental results involving both matter waves and photons both as single entities and in terms of statistical probabilities, plus some aspects of interpretation. The philosophical implications of wave-particle duality remains a topic of discussion and classes.[4]