What does wave-particle duality imply about particles?

Wave-particle duality is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that suggests that elementary particles, such as electrons and photons, exhibit properties of both waves and particles. This duality is not merely a qualitative trait; it highlights the idea that the behavior of particles can change based on the experimental setup or context in which they are being observed.

When an experiment is designed to measure wave properties, such as interference patterns, particles like electrons display their wave-like nature. Conversely, in experiments aimed at measuring particle-like characteristics, such as detection at specific points, these particles behave in a manner consistent with classical particles. This variability is a hallmark of quantum behavior.

This principle fundamentally challenges traditional views that classify existing forms of matter strictly as one or the other (particles or waves). Instead, it reveals that the nature of these particles is encapsulated in the way they are observed and interacted with, elegantly illustrating the complexity of the microscopic world governed by quantum mechanics.