- #1
Super Luminal
- 17
- 0
Hi guys and girls. This is my first post. I am a college student, science enthusiast, but layman still. So I thought it would be appropriate for my first post to be a question (since I have way more of them than answers in this realm)
I've read about light being slowed down, i.e http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1124540.stm"
And I've read that light has both properties of waves and particles. It is my understanding that photons are always moving in the natural world, in fact all particles are constantly moving. Stop me if I'm wrong here, I am a layman. So my question is whether or not we could freeze, trap, or suspend a particle in a way that it is essentially stationary relative to us while still retaining its normal properties? If we can completely stop light we would have to see it as either a particle or a wave, not both, correct? If possible, could we somehow mechanically dissect a particle in way biologists do and remove each of its constituent subatomic particles for study? Even if this is possible, would it tell us anything about these particles we don't already know?
I know I presented a lot of questions, some of which might be goofy to the experts around here, but I'd like some feedback regardless, thanks.
I've read about light being slowed down, i.e http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1124540.stm"
And I've read that light has both properties of waves and particles. It is my understanding that photons are always moving in the natural world, in fact all particles are constantly moving. Stop me if I'm wrong here, I am a layman. So my question is whether or not we could freeze, trap, or suspend a particle in a way that it is essentially stationary relative to us while still retaining its normal properties? If we can completely stop light we would have to see it as either a particle or a wave, not both, correct? If possible, could we somehow mechanically dissect a particle in way biologists do and remove each of its constituent subatomic particles for study? Even if this is possible, would it tell us anything about these particles we don't already know?
I know I presented a lot of questions, some of which might be goofy to the experts around here, but I'd like some feedback regardless, thanks.
Last edited by a moderator: