In terms of a wave, a single photon is typically associated with a localized disturbance or "packet" of electromagnetic energy that propagates through space. Photons are the fundamental particles of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.
In the context of the electromagnetic spectrum, light can be described as an electromagnetic wave, where the electric and magnetic fields oscillate in a perpendicular fashion as the wave propagates through space. Each photon corresponds to a discrete amount of energy associated with a specific frequency (or equivalently, wavelength) of the electromagnetic wave.
When we talk about a single oscillation, we usually refer to a complete cycle of the wave. In the case of light, a single oscillation corresponds to the completion of one full cycle of the electric and magnetic fields. It represents the period it takes for the wave to go from its highest value, through zero, to its lowest value, and back to its highest value again.
The distinction between a single photon and a single oscillation is as follows: A single photon represents the quantized energy packet associated with a specific frequency or wavelength of an electromagnetic wave. It is the smallest indivisible unit of light. On the other hand, a single oscillation refers to a complete cycle of the electric and magnetic fields in the wave, and it does not necessarily correspond to a single photon. In fact, multiple photons can be involved in forming a complete oscillation of an electromagnetic wave.
In summary, a photon is a discrete packet of energy associated with a specific frequency/wavelength of an electromagnetic wave, while a single oscillation represents a complete cycle of the wave's electric and magnetic fields.