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2: Wave-Particle Duality

Last updated

Jun 23, 2019
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- 1.5: Exercises
- 2.1: Wavefunctions

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In classical mechanics, waves and particles are two completely distinct types of physical entity. Waves are continuous and spatially extended, whereas particles are discrete and have little or no spatial extent. However, in quantum mechanics, waves sometimes act as particles, and particles sometimes act as waves—this strange behavior is known as wave-particle duality. In this chapter, we shall examine how wave-particle duality shapes the general features of quantum mechanics.

2.1: Wavefunctions
A wave is defined as a disturbance in some physical system that is periodic in both space and time. In one dimension, a wave is generally represented in terms of a wavefunction.
2.2: Plane-Waves
2.3: Representation of Waves via Complex Functions
2.4: Classical Light-Waves
2.5: Photoelectric Effect
2.6: Quantum Theory of Light
2.7: Classical Interferences of Light Waves
2.8: Quantum Interference of Light
2.9: Particles
2.10: Wave-Packets
2.11: Evolution of Wave-Packets
2.12: Schrodinger's Equation and Wavefunction Collapse
2.13: Exercises

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