Welcome to the Photon Quantum Mechanics Wiki

Abstract: Determining the precise nature of light has been one of the most problematic tasks in the history of Physics. Classically, light has been considered as a wave, displaying such wave-like properties as interference patterns and diffraction. However, theories and experiments performed by physicists such Max Planck and Albert Einstein at the beginning of the twentieth century have hinted at the particle nature of light as well. In this paper, we will present experiments we performed displaying both the particle and wave-like properties of light, suggesting that on the quantum level light acts not simply as a wave or particle, but as some combination between the two.

This site is dedicated to single photon quantum mechanics in the undergraduate curriculum and was developed as part of a Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This site currently being developed as part of a senior capstone experience for a group of physics majors at Dickinson College. Although much of this site is designed specifically for physics majors at Dickinson College, we hope that others will find it useful as well (including physics majors at other colleges and universities). In particular, anyone contemplating developing similar experiments will find detailed information on all the experiments discussed here including any problems we ran into and how we solved them. Additionally, we have developed an extensive overview that should be useful to anyone that is interested in modern quantum mechanics experiments. Here is a brief overview describing our incentive for performing the experiments described on this site:

Determining the precise nature of light has been one of the most puzzling tasks in the history of physics. Classically, light has been considered as a wave, displaying such wave-like properties as interference patterns and diffraction. However, theories and experiments performed by physicists such Max Planck and Albert Einstein at the beginning of the twentieth century have hinted at the particle nature of light as well. In this paper, we will present experiments we performed displaying both the particle and wave-like properties of light, suggesting that on the quantum level light acts not simply as a wave or particle, but as some combination between the two.

How to use this site

This site has two navigation bars, one at the side and one at the top. The one at the side is generally intended for editing purposes and the one at the top is intended for visitor navigation. Initially, only students involved in this project will have permission to edit this site. In the future, we plan to open this site to the general public. This does not apply to the Forum, which is a place for anyone to post messages—questions, answers, suggestions, etc.

Hopefully, the navigation descriptors are relatively self explanatory. On the left, the Welcome link brings you back to this page. The links under Welcome all explain the basics of becoming a member (necessary to edit pages), what a Wiki is and how to edit pages. There is also a link to a discussion forum in which anyone to post comments and questions. The forum is a nice way for authors to communicate with each other regarding the construction of this site or your understanding of the experiments.

Visitors (non authors) to the site will mainly be interested in the top navigation bar (consisting of tabs). The welcome tab brings you back to this page. The overview tab provides both a general and semi-technical description of the experiments. The experiments tab provides a complete overview of each of the experiments we have developed, including step-by-step instructions for students who are performing the various experiments. The development tab provides even more detailed information that will mainly be useful to others interested in developing similar experiments (equipment vendors, costs, problems to watch out for, etc.). Lastly, the about tab provides some brief acknowledgments to those that have assisted (knowingly or not) in putting together this site.

So, enjoy your visit and feel free to post a comment in the Forum if you have a critique or a suggestion.

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