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Do quantum particles cast shadows?

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    What is a "quantum particle?". Additionally, what is a shadow?

    If anything can scatter radiation (as most things can, depending on the mass of the particle, its coupling to the surroundings, and the frequency of the radiation), then necessarily some energy can be taken out of an incident wave and scattered to different directions. This means that the forward scattering amplitude of the radiation on the particle is reduced, reducing the amount of radiation which is emitted in the forward direction. This is a "shadow" in the most technical sense, and so generally, yes, quantum particles can cast shadows.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Not really, a shadow is really just a macroscopic idea, it's got no equivalent at the level of quantum particles.

  • 1 decade ago

    As far as my knowledge goes, using the example of light, it travels as a wave but hits as a particle (photon). So I guess there will not be a shadow present while light is traveling, however there may be one once it makes contact.

  • 1 decade ago

    No. If they did we could determine their position and momentum at the same time. That violates the Uncertainty Principle. Good question though.

  • 1 decade ago

    No,because they are smaller than the wave lenght of visible light.

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