light experiement

[jadibartolomeo]

i'll preface this with..."i'm a novice" <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />as far as i understand, we don't know if light is particle or waves. perhaps someone with a better understanding can think through the following experiement more than i can.<br /><br />with the famous "double slit experiement" and the wave interference pattern in mind, assume you could shine light onto a perfectly perpendicular reflective surface. if it's a wave, it should interfere with the waves on the reflection path (assuming the wavelength of the light and the distance of the light source are tuned correctly). furthermore, light collecting walls could be erected around the light path, and if light is particles, the walls could collect the reflected particles from collisions.

 

[kmarinas86]

Double Slit Experiment explained using a Classical Theory of Quantum Mechanics (CQM)<br />http://www.blacklightpower.com/theory/DoubleSlit.shtml<br /><br />(SQM = Standard Quantum Mechanics)

 

[kmarinas86]

lower energies <-------------------------------------------------------------> higher energies<br />unknown <----------ELF------------light--------------gamma rays------- /> matter<br />mostly waves <--------------------wave/particle duality----------------- /> mostly particles<br /> /> c ? <--------------------------------- = c -------------------------------------> < c

 

[kmarinas86]

http://www.blacklightpower.com/applications.shtml

 

[centsworth_II]

<font color="yellow">"as far as i understand, we don't know if light is particle or waves."</font><br /><br />The problem is not that we don't know if light is particle or waves. The problem is that we KNOW that light cannot be classified as either a particle or a wave. It looks like one in some situations and like the other in other situations. Our brains may be incapable of understanding the true nature of light. Mine certainly is! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[siarad]

I just love that double slit experiment.<br />Waves add at some points & cancel at others, where's the energy gone I thought it was<b> always</b> positive.