Is a single photon travelling through space ,a point particle , or a disturbance in a continuous field which extends throughout space .?

Question

A single photon travelling, through space could be "plotted" as a point disturbance /amplitude ,which varies with distance or time along the direction of travel -- and therefore it appears as a wave form -- or as a disturbance /amplitude in a continuous "field".
Both can be treated mathematically in the same way -- but which is physically correct?

Answer 1

To the extent we think we understand ‘reality’, photons are a “disturbance” of an underlying gauge field that exists everywhere.



Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) is the first of the quantum field theories. It describes the dynamics of the interaction of charged particles and electromagnetic fields. In QED, there is an underlying gauge field, called the electromagnetic 4-potential. That field has an extra degree of freedom (it’s gauge symmetry), and is not physically observable at a point. Changes in the field ARE observable and are the electric and magnetic fields. Rather than electric and magnetic fields being fundamental, they are actually derived. Changes in the electric and magnetic fields are observed as propagating “disturbances” - the gauge bosons of the field, photons. But since the gauge field is fundamental, the propagating photons are actually second order changes in the underlying gauge field. The gauge field appears to be the underlying reality.



The other quantum field theories are similar but more complex. Underlying gauge fields with gauge bosons - as many as 8 gauge bosons (gluons) with quantum chromodynamics.

Answer 2

it's "a great disturbance in the force" Luke



In quantum theory, photons describe quantized electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, a photon is an elementary excitation of a normal mode of the electromagnetic field. Thus a single-photon state is the quantum state of a radiation mode that contains a single excitation.



Soooo, it's a wave, and a point, and a field all at once.

Answer 3

Photons are tangible massive particle just like atoms are tangible massive complex structures.Hence they are real very small invariant mass structure in the order of 10^-51 kilograms.moving with a Power of 2 x 10 ^51 joules per second of time. With that amount of power the massive photon volume would disturb space structure producing a moving force in space resulting in a space wave. which is termed in modern description as described to be an electromagnetic wave.

Answer 4

Both views are correct. It depends on how you do the measurement. Quantum mechanics is weird.

Answer 5

>> which is physically correct?

Photons are not waves, and they are not point particles. They are photons. We use wave-like equations to describe them in some situations, and point-like equations to describe them in some other situations. And then there are some situations where we need to use the full quantum field theory equations.

Answer 6

it is neither and both. we choose to perceive it one way or the other. I would describe it as a semi-localized disruption of the energy balance.

Answer 7

No .

Answer 8

If a single photon could be "plotted," it would only be its probability wave that could be plotted, not the photon itself.

Answer 9

You realize photons travel at the speed of light right, and you can't actually see them, unless they're hitting you in the eyes? Look, I could pretend to be that smart, but I'm smart enough to realize anyone who says they know is most probably pretending. I know light can be both a particle, and a wave, based on that's what they told me, I think.