Yes, light can exhibit both particle-like and wave-like characteristics, depending on the experimental setup and observations. This duality is known as wave-particle duality and is a fundamental principle in quantum mechanics.
In some experiments, light behaves as a wave and exhibits wave-like properties such as interference and diffraction. For example, when light passes through a narrow slit, it creates an interference pattern on a screen, similar to how waves in water would behave. This suggests that light has wave characteristics.
On the other hand, there are experiments where light behaves as discrete particles called photons. For instance, the photoelectric effect, where light incident on a metal surface causes the ejection of electrons, can only be explained by treating light as a stream of particles. Additionally, the observation of individual "bursts" of light in experiments such as single-photon interference or photon counting also supports the particle nature of light.
The wave-particle duality extends beyond light and applies to other entities in the quantum world, such as electrons and other elementary particles. This duality suggests that particles can exhibit wave-like behavior and waves can exhibit particle-like behavior. The exact behavior observed depends on the experimental conditions and the type of measurement being performed.
It is important to note that wave-particle duality is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics, and our understanding of the behavior of light and other quantum entities is based on mathematical models and experimental observations that reflect this duality.