wave-particle duality

Scientific  

1. The exhibition of both wavelike and particlelike properties by a single entity. For example, electrons undergo diffraction and can interfere with each other as waves, but they also act as pointlike masses and electric charges. The theory of quantum mechanics is a attempt to explain these apparently contradictory properties exhibited by matter.

2. See also complementarity

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wave-particle duality Cultural  

1. In quantum mechanics, the condition that allows every quantum to appear like a wave in some experiments and like an elementary particle in others.

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Example Sentences

You don’t need a master’s in wave-particle duality to enjoy the cosmic playground of coincidence and fate that Kröger has in mind.

From Los Angeles Times

It involves harnessing the properties of light, such as its wave-particle duality, to induce interference patterns, enabling the encoding and processing of quantum information.

From Science Daily

And this wave-particle duality can give rise to some weird and sneaky phenomena.

From Science Daily

And as Prescod-Weinstein notes, physicists may even misinterpret the wave-particle duality and confuse the rotating identities of neutrinos because they are too oriented toward binaries.

From Salon

This wave-particle duality is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics.

From Scientific American