Photons are not considered particles in the classical sense; they are quantum mechanical entities that exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior. In quantum mechanics, photons are described as quanta of electromagnetic radiation. They are the fundamental particles of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation.
According to the wave-particle duality principle in quantum mechanics, photons can behave as both particles and waves, depending on how they are observed or measured. In some experiments, photons behave as particles, and in others, they exhibit wave-like properties.
When photons are considered as waves, they are described by the electromagnetic wave equation and exhibit characteristics such as interference, diffraction, and polarization. These wave properties are related to the oscillating electric and magnetic fields that make up the electromagnetic wave.
However, it's important to note that photons themselves are not riding on waves produced by their own oscillations. Rather, they are the carriers of the wave-like behavior associated with electromagnetic radiation. The wave properties of photons arise from the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and the mathematical formalism used to describe them.
So, in summary, photons themselves are not particles riding on waves produced by their own oscillations. They are quantum entities that can exhibit both particle-like and wave-like behavior, with the wave-like behavior arising from the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics.