Why are both the photon model an the electromagnetic wave model accepted today as a single theory?

Answer 1

Although the particle and wave models of the photon are mutually exclusive a particle model is necessary for the explanation of some experimental results (e.g., the photoelectric effect) whereas for other experiments a wave picture is used. Use of Bohr's Complementarity Principle leads us to consider the question of "What is light, really?" to be meaningless because there is no procedure by which that question can be answered.

However, those two models can be reconciled if the wave is a PROBABILITY wave and not the Maxwell sinusoidal wave. Another possibility for reconciliation arises if one considers the photon as a wave packet, as Einstein did very early in his career. A useful model of the photon as a particle has been put forward by G. Hunter and associates in which the photon is considered as an ellipsoidal soliton. For more details of Hunter's model do a Google search for Geoffrey Hunter, Emeritus Professor of Physics at York University, in Canada.

Luis A. Veguilla-Berdecia, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry

University of Puerto Rico

San Juan PR 00931

Answer 2

Both the photon model and the electromagnetic wave model are accepted as a single theory because they are complementary descriptions of light. The photon model explains light as particles (photons) with discrete energy, while the electromagnetic wave model describes light as an oscillating electric and magnetic field. Together, they provide a complete understanding of the dual nature of light.