• DOI:10.4006/0836-1398-25.1.132
• Corpus ID: 53545043

Wave-particle duality: A proposed resolution

@article{Pons2012WaveparticleDA,
  title={Wave-particle duality: A proposed resolution},
  author={Dirk J Pons and Arion Pons and Ariel M. Pons and Aiden J. Pons},
  journal={Physics Essays},
  year={2012},
  volume={25},
  pages={132-140}
}

• D. Pons, A. Pons, +1 author A. J. Pons
• Published 1 March 2012
• Physics
• Physics Essays

There are several integration problems of fundamental physics that still lack coherent solutions, the case in point being wave-particle duality. While empiricism and mathematical modelling have served physics well, they have not yet been able to achieve integrated causal models. Conventional theories and approaches have only provided partial solutions, and it is possible that a more radical reconceptualisation of fundamental physics may be required. This work comes at the issue from a totally different approach: it applies engineering design thinking to the problem. The result is the cordus conjecture, which proposes that the photon, and indeed all matter ‘particles’, has an internal structure comprising a 'cordus': two reactive ends that each behave like a particle, with a fibril joining them. The reactive ends are proposed to be a small finite distance apart, and energised [typically in turn] at a frequency. When energised they emit a transient force pulse along a line called a hyperfine fibril [hyff], and this makes up the field. This concept is used to explain the path dilemmas of the single photon in the double-slit device, and the wave behaviour of light including the formation of fringes by single photons and beams of light. In addition it provides a tangible explanation for frequency. It also yields new quantitative derivations for several basic optical effects: critical angle, Snell’s law, and elsewhere Brewster’s angle. Thus the proposed cordus structure resolves wave-particle duality at a conceptual level. The cordus conjecture does away with the current weirdness of wave-particle duality: there is no need for virtual particles, superposition, observer dilemmas, pilot waves, intelligent photons, or parallel universes. A simple deterministic, unintelligent photon with dual modes of existence is all that is required. Cordus suggests there is a deeper mechanics that subsumes both quantum mechanics and wave theory. From this cordus perspective, wave and particle behaviours are simply the different output behaviours that the internal system of the photon shows depending on how it is measured. The duality and the apparent incongruity of quantum mechanics and wave theory is an artefact of the limited formulations of those theories, and the conflict does not exist at the deeper level of mechanics. While the present paper only addresses wave-particle duality, the wider work provides an integrative conceptual solution for several other enigmatic effects. Cordus is simpler and more logically consistent across a wider range of phenomena than quantum mechanics or wave theory. Even more surprising, and unexpectedly contrary to the prevailing probabilistic paradigm of quantum mechanics, cordus suggests that the next deeper level of reality is deterministic. Il existe plusieurs problèmes d’intégration de la physique fondamentale qui requièrent, encore à ce jour, une solution cohérente. Le problème en question ici est celui de la dualité onde-particule. Alors que l’empirisme et la modélisation mathématiques ont bien servit la physique, ils n’ont pas, à ce jour, permis l’élaboration de modèles causaux intégrés. Les théories et approches conventionnelles n’ont fournit que des solutions partielles, et il est possible qu’une reconceptualisation plus radicale de la physique fondamentale soit nécessaire. Ce travail traite ce problème avec une toute autre approche en appliquant des processus de pensée relatifs au génie de conception. Le résultat est la « conjecture de cordus « qui propose que le photon et en fait toute particule matérielle a une structure interne comprenant un « cordus « : deux extrémités réactives se comportant comme des 1 Please address correspondence to Dr Dirk Pons, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Email [e-mail] Copyright Dirk Pons.