Is the Photon Really a Particle? V.2

TL;DR

This paper questions the traditional particle interpretation of photons, proposing that photons may have separate wave and discrete identities, challenging the assumption that energy delivery requires a particle impact.

Contribution

It introduces the idea that photons might possess two linked identities—wave and discrete—without necessarily being particles, offering a new perspective on photon behavior.

Findings

Photon's wave nature is undeniable.

Photon's particle nature is questionable.

Energy delivery does not necessarily imply particle impact.

Abstract

Photons deliver their energy and momentum to a point on a material target. It is commonplace to attribute this to particle impact. But since the inflight photon also has a wave nature, we are stuck with the paradox of wave and particle duality. It is argued here that the photon's wave nature is indisputable, but its particle nature is open to question. Photons deliver energy. The problem with invoking impact as a means of delivery is that energy becomes a payload which in turn requires a particle. This assumes that energy is always a payload and there is but one mode of energy delivery; surely two unsupported assumptions. It should be possible to explain photon termination without invoking particle impact. One approach offered here is to question the assumption that the photon is a unitary object. Perhaps the photon has two linked but distinct identities: one supporting wave behavior and the other supporting discrete behavior. It is the latter that might imitate particle impact.