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The theoretical wave particle duality of light states that a particle of light (a photon) exerts the characteristics of a wave and of a particle. This is a consequence of the nature of light; a single 'unit' of light comprises of a photon and an electromagnetic field, which can consequently exert either (or both) the characteristics of a wave and the characteristics of a particle. Heisenberg's principle of uncertainty is, therefore, applicable to light 'packets', and indicates that either the momentum or the position of the particle will be measured less accurately as the accuracy of the other increases.

It is considered a paradox. Einstein first proposed that Planck's 'Quanta' should also be applied to light. It was strongly resisted, but he eventually won his Nobel Prize for it. It is often misunderstood. Photon particles have only ever actually been observed at short ranges and with short life. They are however also assumed to travel from distant stars, which came back to bite Einstein as particle conservation is one of the obstacles for Unification of QFT with Relativity. Energy is wave oscillation, and particles are focussed oscillation, (and/or 'spin') seen as 'corpuscles'. They also behave and 'group' in a 'wave like' way at a macro scale, Youngs twin slip experiment, the wave ahead of the earths bow shock are waves consisting of many billions of particles, similar to the surface of the sea.

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