The nature of an electron, as well as other fundamental particles, is described by the theory of quantum mechanics, which incorporates the concept of wave-particle duality. According to quantum mechanics, particles like electrons can exhibit both particle-like and wave-like behaviors, depending on how they are observed or measured.
In terms of the particle nature, an electron is considered a fundamental particle with mass, charge, and spin. It possesses properties of a localized entity with a definite position and momentum. When interacting with other particles or detectors, electrons can be detected as discrete entities, much like classical particles.
On the other hand, the wave nature of an electron refers to its wave-like behavior, as described by its quantum mechanical wave function. The wave function represents the probability amplitude of finding the electron at different positions in space. It encodes the wave-like nature of the electron and describes the likelihood of its presence in different regions.
When the position of an electron is measured, the wave function "collapses" to a specific location, corresponding to the particle-like behavior. However, between measurements, the electron's wave function can evolve and exhibit wave-like characteristics such as interference and diffraction.
The wave-particle duality suggests that the behavior of particles at the quantum level is fundamentally different from classical objects. It is important to note that the wave nature of particles does not imply that they are physical waves in the conventional sense. The wave-like behavior is a mathematical description of the probabilities associated with the particle's behavior.
Ultimately, the precise nature of particles like electrons is a complex and philosophical question, and interpretations of quantum mechanics vary. Different interpretations, such as the Copenhagen interpretation or the many-worlds interpretation, offer different perspectives on the underlying reality of particles and their wave-particle duality.