Wave-Particle Duality: A New Look from First Principles

Part I looks at duality for the photon; Part II does the same for the electron. The traditional division of kinetic energy between radiation (E = hf) and matter-in-motion (E = 1/2 mv2) is reexamined permitting new insights into duality.\ud \ud An in-flight photon displays wave characteristics. Such a photon can interfere with itself and take all available space paths as a wave. In addition, photons pass through one another like waves whereas particles impact each other. It is only when the photon terminates on a material object and gives up its energy – and ceases to be a photon – that particle characteristics appear, namely: 1) the photon is finally space located; and 2) oscillation ceases. This suggests that the photon’s wave and particle nature do not overlap. Understanding photon termination as a release of mass stored, rather than particle impact, permits a better understanding of presumed wave-particle duality for the photon