In the context of quantum mechanics, it is not accurate to say that the wave and particle descriptions of light are orthogonal to each other. Instead, they are two complementary aspects or representations of light that cannot be fully described by a single classical concept. This duality is known as wave-particle duality.
According to the wave-particle duality principle, light (and other elementary particles) can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior depending on the experimental setup and the observations made. This means that under certain circumstances, light behaves like a wave, exhibiting properties such as interference and diffraction, while under other circumstances, it behaves like a particle, interacting with matter in discrete packets called photons.
It is important to note that the wave-particle duality is not a contradiction or inconsistency in our understanding but rather a fundamental feature of quantum mechanics. It highlights the limitations of classical concepts when dealing with phenomena at the quantum level.
So, rather than being orthogonal or separate, the wave and particle descriptions are two complementary perspectives that collectively provide a more complete understanding of the behavior of light and other quantum entities.