The wave-particle duality of light is not a matter of interpretation but rather a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics, supported by a wealth of experimental evidence. However, it is essential to understand that the way light behaves in a specific experiment depends on how the experiment is set up and what aspects of light are being measured.
Experiments designed to observe the wave-like behavior of light, such as interference or diffraction experiments, demonstrate the characteristic patterns expected from waves. For example, when light passes through a double-slit experiment, an interference pattern is observed, indicating the wave nature of light. This phenomenon is explained by the constructive and destructive interference of light waves.
Conversely, experiments designed to demonstrate the particle-like behavior of light, such as the photoelectric effect or Compton scattering, reveal the discrete nature of light. In the photoelectric effect, photons striking a material surface cause the emission of electrons, with the energy of the photons determining the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons. This behavior can only be explained by treating light as particles (photons) that carry discrete amounts of energy.
Therefore, depending on the experimental setup and the specific phenomena being investigated, different aspects of light's behavior are observed, either as waves or particles. It is not a matter of interpretation but a reflection of the inherent duality of light at the quantum level.
It is worth noting that the wave-particle duality is not limited to light; it applies to other particles as well, such as electrons and even larger molecules. These behaviors have been extensively studied and verified through various experiments and observations, providing strong evidence for the wave-particle duality in the quantum realm.
In summary, the wave-particle duality of light is not a subjective interpretation but a well-established aspect of quantum mechanics supported by experimental evidence. Different experiments reveal different aspects of light's behavior, either as waves or particles, highlighting the need for a dual description to fully understand its nature.