First ever photograph of light as a particle and a wave

[Machiavelli]

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
ScienceDaily
March 2, 2015

Light behaves both as a particle and as a wave. Since the days of Einstein, scientists have been trying to directly observe both of these aspects of light at the same time. Now, scientists have succeeded in capturing the first-ever snapshot of this dual behavior.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlaVHxUSiNk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlaVHxUSiNk

[ABX]

[aligncare]

Here is a screenshot of the snapshot from my iPad:



Kool

[Oceander]

I see waves; I'm not so sure I see particles, unless the particles are simply the points of greatest amplitude on the wave.

[aligncare]

I see waves; I'm not so sure I see particles, unless the particles are simply the points of greatest amplitude on the wave.

I think that's it. Remember, the dual nature of light was simply theorized. The exact way that the "packets" would appear once visualized would have been anyone's guess. It is indeed fascinating.

[Oceander]

I think that's it. Remember, the dual nature of light was simply theorized. The exact way that the "packets" would appear once visualized would have been anyone's guess. It is indeed fascinating.

I know.  However, if particles are simply the peaks of the waves then there is no particle-wave duality, merely a wave.

[aligncare]

I know.  However, if particles are simply the peaks of the waves then there is no particle-wave duality, merely a wave.

Perhaps. But, it's way beyond my pay grade to knowledgeably make that distinction.

Einstein used chalk and blackboard, paper and pencil, and a precise knowledge of mathematics to shed light upon his theory of relativity.

I had to repeat algebra three times. My only redemption? A daughter with an advanced degree in mathematics.

 13291

[Dexter]

I think altering the properties of light will be what takes force field concepts out of science fiction and into reality.

[Oceander]

I think altering the properties of light will be what takes force field concepts out of science fiction and into reality.

You can already alter the properties of light:  run it through a prism, for example, or through any other medium, and you'll change the properties of the given light passing through.