The wave-particle duality is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that describes the dual nature of particles. According to this concept, particles such as electrons and photons can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on the experimental context.
On one hand, particles can exhibit particle-like behavior, characterized by localized position and discrete properties such as mass and charge. On the other hand, particles can exhibit wave-like behavior, characterized by interference and diffraction patterns similar to classical waves. This duality is not intuitive from the perspective of classical physics, where particles and waves are treated as distinct entities.
The wave-particle duality is mathematically described using wave functions in quantum mechanics. The wave function describes the probability distribution of finding a particle at a particular position, and its behavior is governed by wave equations such as the Schrödinger equation.
Now, entanglement is a separate concept from wave-particle duality. Entanglement refers to a peculiar quantum phenomenon where two or more particles become correlated in such a way that the state of one particle cannot be described independently of the others. When particles are entangled, their properties become intertwined, regardless of the spatial separation between them.
Entanglement is not a prerequisite for wave-particle duality. The wave-particle duality arises from the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, which describe the behavior of particles as waves and their interactions as probabilistic events. Entanglement, on the other hand, is a consequence of quantum mechanics but not necessary to understand the wave-particle duality. Both concepts, however, are significant aspects of quantum physics and play crucial roles in understanding the behavior of particles at the quantum level.