According to the principles of quantum mechanics, particles such as electrons can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behaviors. This phenomenon is known as wave-particle duality.
Wave-particle duality suggests that particles, including electrons, can exhibit wave-like properties under certain circumstances. For example, when electrons are not being observed or measured, they can behave as waves, spreading out and interfering with themselves. This wave-like behavior is described by a mathematical function called a wavefunction, which characterizes the probability distribution of finding the electron in different states.
On the other hand, when a measurement or observation is made, the electron behaves as a particle, localizing at a specific position. The act of measurement "collapses" the wavefunction, causing the electron to be detected as a particle at a particular location.
The behavior of particles is described by the mathematical framework of quantum mechanics, which uses equations such as the Schrödinger equation to calculate the probabilities of different outcomes. The wave-particle duality is a fundamental aspect of this framework.
It's important to note that the wave-particle duality is not a contradiction but rather a fundamental feature of quantum mechanics. It indicates that at the microscopic scale, particles can exhibit characteristics of both waves and particles, depending on the experimental setup and the act of observation. The precise nature of this duality is still a topic of ongoing research and interpretation within the field of quantum mechanics.