8Quantum Theory of Light: Field Quantization and Measurement
The quantum theory of light started at the beginning of the last century. The successful introduction of the concept of a photon, or a quantum of light, stimulated a new foundation of physics, namely, the quantum theory. Today, quantum theory has turned out to be the overarching principle of modern physics. It would be difficult to find a single subject among the physical science that is not affected in its foundations or in its applications by quantum theory.
After 100 years of studies, what do we know about the photon? The photon is a wave: it has no mass, it travels at the highest speed in the universe, and it interferes with itself. The photon is a particle: it has well-defined ...
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