| Introduction | | | | because the magnetic and electric wave is what is |
| In this paper I will be attempting to solve the mystery | | | | responsible for the existence of the photon. Once |
| of the wave and particle nature of light. It seems that | | | | below this velocity threshold the wave nature will be |
| science has been willing to simply accept the fact that | | | | lost and the particle nature will be all that remains. The |
| light acts as a wave one moment, and then a particle | | | | magnetic component of the light wave will feel the |
| the next. This particle, called a photon, has been | | | | presence of magnetic fields and will react in the |
| verified by Einstein with his experimentation on the | | | | presence of this field. This relates to my hypothesis |
| photoelectric effect. In that experiment he concluded | | | | that gravity is a manifestation of magnetism on a |
| that packets of energy are given off, and it was this | | | | macro scale. We view magnetism on a micro scale on |
| packet that is the photon. Experimentation has also | | | | a daily basis. The macro scale includes large bodies of |
| verified the existence of photons. For example, in one | | | | mass such as moons, planets, stars, solar systems, |
| experiment light was passed through razor thin slits | | | | galaxies, etc. It is a quantity of space that contains a |
| and on the other side was a film. When a photon hits | | | | large number of particles that combine to create a |
| this film it will leave a picture at that spot. Every time a | | | | strong gravitational field. This gravitational field is not a |
| photon struck the film it would leave a mark on the film | | | | separate force. This also does not only include |
| and this continued on and on until a very interesting | | | | magnetic fields. The magnetic fields of a planet or |
| patter began to emerge. The photons were hitting the | | | | other body do play a role, but it is not the whole |
| same areas over and over again, while avoiding other | | | | picture. I also include particles such as protons and |
| areas of the film. The result was a series of light and | | | | electrons. A planet is nothing more than a sea of these |
| dark lines on the film. This was a wave pattern, even | | | | particles. The magnetic wave component of light will |
| though it was created by the photons hitting the film. | | | | feel the presence of these large pockets of particles. |
| The particle had formed a wave pattern. Other | | | | Another possibility is that the combination of the two |
| experimentation has verified the wave nature of light. | | | | waves to give rise to the photon, and it is the photon |
| Light can be passed through a prism and split into | | | | that is effected by a Gravinetic force. |
| different wavelengths of color. Light also has been | | | | I will start out with the weaker of my two hypothesis |
| shown to diffract around objects. For these reasons | | | | for how light exists as a particle wave. I call it the |
| we have come to accept the fact that light behaves | | | | "Node" Hypothesis and I make the claim that the |
| as both a wave and a particle. Experimentation will | | | | photon of a beam of light exists at the node of the |
| show that it is a particle, and yet other experiments will | | | | wave. The node is the point in which the magnetic |
| show that it is a wave. This paper will attempt to | | | | component and the electric component intersect. This |
| resolve this issue by explaining how it may be possible | | | | is the only point where these two waves will ever |
| for a particle wave to exist. | | | | intersect in a light wave. It is this intersection between |
| The Particle Wave | | | | these two wave components that gives rise to the |
| Light is very different from other waves that we are | | | | existence of photons. Since this electromagnetic wave |
| familiar with. Light is nothing more than energy | | | | is continuous, these two wave components are |
| composed of an electric and a magnetic wave. These | | | | continuously flowing through one another and |
| two waves are traveling at right angles to one another | | | | intersecting at the nodes. Essentially creating a beam |
| and at right angles to the direction of its travel. For this | | | | of light that is a continuous wave as well as a |
| reason light is referred to as an electromagnetic wave. | | | | continuous stream of photons. So, when we do |
| The more common waves we are familiar with, such | | | | experimentation to see if light is a wave, it behaves as |
| as a wave on a lake or in the ocean, is energy that is | | | | a wave. At the same time if we decided to see if light |
| traveling through a mass. If you were to throw a | | | | was a stream of particles then our experimentation will |
| pebble into a pond then you would witness a ripple | | | | prove this as well. This view of light is not really the |
| move outward and way from the point the pebble | | | | weaker of my two hypothesis, it is as valid as my |
| entered the water. At this point the kinetic energy of | | | | next suggestion. In reality it is almost exactly the same, |
| the pebble has been absorbed by the pond when the | | | | the only difference being where the photon exists in |
| pebble strikes its surface. This energy then proceeds | | | | this stream of particle light. |
| to travel across the surface of the pond. It is important | | | | Rather than having the photon exists at the nodes, my |
| to not that it is not the water that is moving. What you | | | | second hypothesis simply places the photon where the |
| are seeing is the wave move across the water while | | | | amplitudes of the two waves exist simultaneously. |
| the water remains in the same location. If a wave | | | | There are also a sub-possibilities withing this |
| moves from one side of a pool to another, it does not | | | | hypothesis. The first way that I consider light to exist in |
| mean that the water on that side has now moved to | | | | this fashion deals with the particle wave moving in a |
| the other side. Only the wave has made the journey. | | | | straight line with no rotation. The amplitude of the |
| This is not just the case with liquid bodies. All forms of | | | | magnetic and electric components coincide with one |
| matter can absorb energy. Take a spoon and tap a | | | | another at right angles. It is here that the photon may |
| glass with it lightly. You will not see a wave pass | | | | exist. Again, the addition of the two components is |
| through the glass, but you will hear it and some of the | | | | what gives rise to the existence of the photon. Since |
| energy from the impact does pass through the glass. | | | | this is a wave the two components of this wave are |
| Now strike the glass a bit harder and this time it | | | | continuously adding up at one point. |
| breaks. The rigid glass could not handle the amplitude | | | | So, we can imagine that the photon exists in the |
| of the energy that you applied to it and it breaks. A | | | | amplitude of the two waves. The presence of both |
| better example would be to consider earthquakes. An | | | | components of the electromagnetic wave is what |
| earthquake is nothing more than an instant and sudden | | | | gives rise to the photon. This becomes even more |
| release of stored energy. Pressure builds over time on | | | | clear when we consider that this electromagnetic |
| a fault line until the pressure is released. When it is | | | | wave may be rotating at a high velocity as it moves |
| released the energy from that build up is also released. | | | | forward. This is the sub-possibility that I mentioned |
| The Quake that results is a wave passing through the | | | | earlier. If light rotates at a high velocity then the two |
| crust of the earth. All of these events that I have | | | | waves are combining even further to give rise to the |
| describe is energy passing through a medium in the | | | | photon. The rotation of the beam of light at high |
| form of waves. With light, this is not so. | | | | velocity could create a region within the wave to |
| Light does not need a medium to pass through. Light | | | | behave as a particle. This region, in the above |
| would rather not pass through anything at all, because | | | | example, is in the amplitude of both wave components. |
| when it does so it slows a bit, is bent, loses energy to | | | | This has some interesting results. The amplitude and |
| materials, is re-radiated out into space, etc. There is no | | | | wavelength of the electromagnetic wave directly |
| matter in space for the most part. I say for the most | | | | effects what type off photon will exist. |
| part, because there are massive expanses of | | | | This goes back to Einsteins packet of energy or |
| hydrogen, particles of dust, space debris from the size | | | | quanta. The photon, which is the quanta, is dependent |
| of a basketball all the way up to a asteroids. Then | | | | upon the nature of the electromagnetic wave. The |
| there are planets, stars, black holes, and so on and so | | | | longer the wave length the less energy there will be to |
| forth. For all of this material that exists in the vacuum | | | | go into the photon. The shorter the wavelength the |
| of space there is still a great deal of empty space out | | | | more energy there is available to go into the photon. |
| there, and light is able to traverse this space. This is an | | | | The energy available in the light wave is the exact |
| important concept, because there is no medium for | | | | same amount of energy that will be available to the |
| light to travel through. Light is an electromagnetic wave. | | | | existence of the photon. This is the essence of the |
| So, how does this wave behave and what is its | | | | "Particle Wave". They are not separate entities. The |
| structure? As I said before, light behaves as both a | | | | electromagnetic wave cannot exist without the photon |
| particle and a wave. This tells us a great deal about | | | | and the photon cannot exist without the |
| light, because we have the pieces and it is only a | | | | electromagnetic wave. As soon as a beam of light |
| matter of completing the puzzle. If light acts as a | | | | leaves its source, it does so as a wave. The photon |
| particle, then we know a particle must be present. If | | | | also instantaneously comes into existence soon after |
| light acts as a wave, then we know a wave must be | | | | this wave leaves the source. So, if the question was |
| present. It would be far fetched to believe that light | | | | "Which came first, the wave or the photon?" The |
| decides to behave a certain way according to how | | | | answer would be the wave component, but since the |
| we are observing it. Light doesn't say; "Well, since they | | | | photon instantaneously comes into existence soon |
| are experimenting on me this way then I had better | | | | after; it really doesn't matter. The two are almost |
| behave like a particle". If you don't believe me then you | | | | instantaneous. |
| will have to trust me on this. Light does not decide | | | | Conclusions |
| anything. It is what it is, and we have to be able to | | | | It is time we cowboy up and stop dancing around this |
| read the clues and formulate the right conclusions from | | | | issue. Yes, we know that light exhibits both a wave |
| those clues. | | | | nature, and a particle nature. It is then reasonable to |
| I have two possibility that I have considered for how | | | | assume that an electromagnetic wave and a photon |
| light would be able to exhibit both wave and particle | | | | are one and the same. You cannot have an |
| natures. I have also outlined a few rules that are | | | | electromagnetic wave without the photon and you |
| necessary for light to exist as we know it. They are; | | | | can't have the photon without the electromagnetic |
| 1)The presence of both the electric and magnetic | | | | wave. I put forth in this paper two scenarios where the |
| wave is necessary for the photon to exist | | | | photon could exist within the electromagnetic wave. I |
| 2)The speed of light must remain over a certain | | | | have also stated that it is the presence of both the |
| threshold or the wave nature of light will be destroyed | | | | electric and magnetic wave that combine to create |
| 3)The photon cannot exist without the electromagnetic | | | | the photon. Since the combination of these two waves |
| wave component. | | | | gives rise to the photon and I currently believe that it |
| 4)Light will bend in the presence of a strong magnetic | | | | only gives rise to a photon; we can re-designate the |
| field | | | | electromagnetic wave as the "Particle Wave". This |
| It is the presence of both the magnetic and electric | | | | particle wave "IS" energy and is different from other |
| wave component that creates the photon. As long as | | | | waves; which are energy that is moving through |
| light is traveling at great speeds it will exhibit wave like | | | | matter. The particle wave is the essence of energy, |
| properties. If light drops below the necessary rate for | | | | while other waves are nothing more than energy |
| the wave to remain intact, then the light wave will | | | | exchanges between and through matter. |
| break apart into a stream of free photons. This is | | | | |