Directly observing the phenomena of light strands and its propagation in free space is strong confirmation of its particle nature. The generation of discrete strands with defined borders contradicts wave theory. Blurred edges or gradients, which would be consistent with wave interference, were not present as the strands are sharply defined. Focal, instead of diffuse, blocking of individual strands at the slit exit and screen supports particle concepts. The immediate splitting into strands upon exiting the slit further opposes wave theory in which interference would occur further away from the slit where expanding waves would have constructive and destructive interference. We show, for the first time, streaming strands of light traversing fee space, striking the screen, and creating the classic fringe pattern. This is clear, visible evidence against wave constructive interference as the cause for these fringe marks. Furthermore, the clear spaces are not due to wave destructive interference, but are from the separation of discrete strands. These photon trajectory patterns visibly disprove the longstanding belief that these are wave interference patterns.
The reflection posteriorly from the slit caused its own fringe pattern. Not having gone through the double slit, this reflection should not have a fringe per wave theory as no constructive or destructive wave interference would have occurred. Particle theory explains it as multiple strands reflecting posteriorly from the slit entrance.
A single slit also caused a breakup of light into visible strands causing a fringe pattern. This occurred with a single slit where there would be an absence of interfering waves, again refuting wave theory. Most of the strands coalesced in the center with fewer peripheral strands reflecting away, consistent with observed single slit fringe patterns.
A pinhole created streaming concentric sheaths of light. Having a curved edge, unlike a slit, it reflected strands in concentric halos. As these sheathes collided with the screen, the characteristic concentric ring pattern was created. Interestingly, this ring pattern was visible in cross section of the strands traversing free space.
Convergence of strands occurs with a + 20D lens. This “collapse” of the fringe pattern is noted with visible convergence of the photon strands. This sharp visible deflection of strands further demonstrates the non-wave nature of light. It may also offer an explanation for the puzzling collapse of interference patterns noted in some double slit experiments.8,9
Photon strands can also be reflected and still retain discrete borders. When sent through a prism, the reflected strands continued to display sharp, fringe patterns, which would be inconsistent with waves.
Light strands prefer to preserve their tight formation as evidenced by the lack of reaction to additional laser light projection onto the strands. There seems to be a resistance to interference from external photons. This may explain the sharp separation of strands exiting from a slit and the corresponding distinct clear spaces of the fringe pattern.
Magnets did not show any significant visible effects on light strands with either pole nor with any directional movement. This is unexpected if light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and requires further exploration.
These observations of visible light strands confirm the particle theory of light. They also directly contradict the 200 year old doctrine that double slit diffraction patterns of light are only attributable to wave interference. Distinct strand channels, not waves, create the alternating marks. In our schematic diagram (Fig. 11) consider the laser beam as being shattered into shards of photons at the periphery where it encounters the slit edges. These photon shards, as they reflect in all directions, appear to quickly re-organize and fuse into evenly separated strands as they stream away from the slits. After traversing free space these strands collide with the screen creating an evenly separated fringe pattern.
The data shows that strands become more cylindrical with greater distance from the slit. We propose that this round configuration is consistent with particles propagating through the strands in a helical, rotational pattern. Particles traversing along tubular channels would be more symmetrical and stable with a helical rotation. Linear point particles would scatter in all different directions. Helical, cylindrical propagations are more likely to stay in defined channels, creating the sharp, alternating bright and dark fringe marks
Strands of helical tunneling photons also provide both particle and oscillatory behavior. As strands, light behaves as a particle that travels linearly. With a helical rotation, it displays oscillatory wave-like behavior with rotational phases. Therefore, this model can be described as a hybrid, though different from the traditional descriptions of transverse light waves.
Photons in the same phase of helical rotation, merging and weaving together tightly, may explain the formation of discrete strands. This coupling mechanism relies on a helical rotational phase matching, while photons out of phase would be repulsed away towards another strand, creating the alternating light and dark fringe pattern. Tight phase integration of strands may also clarify why light beams do not interfere with each other when their paths cross. Photons tunneling through some materials may also be explained by this tight union that may cross through weaker bonds of some materials. Other attractive or repulsive forces may also be present. Cohesiveness of strands does not seem to be due to charge or magnetism as photons do not have charge nor did the strands respond to magnetic fields.
As light strands radiate in uniform angles and intervals (Table 1) (Fig. 12), equations can model the observations. Geometrical dilation of individual light strands over distance can be described by the linear equation (Fig. 5):
y = (0.0016) x
Dilation of the clear interval can be described with the linear equation (Fig. 6):
y = (0.00027) x
As angles approximate to isosceles triangles, the vertex angle of a strand or clear interval can be calculated using the equation:
Vertex angle (ϴ) = 2 (ArcTan (Width/2)/ Slit Distance)
The strand (mark) angle is larger than the clear interval angle, consistent with observed greater geometrical dilation of the light strand over distance.
The single light strand triangle can also be used to calculate the linear wavelength of the laser (Table 1) (Fig. 12). One wavelength will create a smaller similar triangle with base width calculated from the previous linear equation of light strands (w = 8.512E-07) and slit distance of 1 λ. As these are similar triangles the following equation can be applied:
λ / D = w / W and λ = w * D / W
Using vertex angles it can be written as:
λ = w / 2(Tan (1/2 ϴ))
Discrete strands, which stream in straight lines, explain why ray tracing is an effective way of describing light behavior. Calculations based on wave interference patterns10 will be imprecise. Models using ray diagrams,11 instead of wave geometry to explain their results, remain effective as they are consistent with linear strands. Precision may improve when adapted to photon strand geometry. Interferometers, thought to be displaying interference patterns of waves10, may be better explained as photo-strand interaction patterns. Similarly, diffraction grating12 effects may not be from waves but rather, photo-strands that are split or reflected apart by slits or grooves. As another example, the Fresnel central bright spot10 may be better described as the convergence of strands reflecting from an object’s round border to the middle of the screen.
Light strands not only explain the pseudo- interference pattern of double slits, but also elucidate how single photons or electrons display pseudo-interference patterns.5, 13, 14 Superposition of the same wave passing through both slits, interfering with itself and collapsing as a particle on the screen has a simpler alternative. Single photons or electrons follow these discrete cylindrical channels instead of scattering diffusely, thus creating a pseudo-wave interference fringe. There still is noise on the fringe pattern of single photons with indistinct marks as some photons land in the clear spaces. This would be consistent with single photons generally propagating helically along a set channel but not as steadily as multiple photons travelling together in tight strands.
These findings require us to re-assess the idea, which was supported by Young’s original double slit experiment, 15 of light as a wave. The fringe pattern is a pseudo-interference pattern and not wave interaction. Wave equations, being a foundation of modern quantum mechanics, 6, 14, 16 will need to be re-evaluated to incorporate these findings. Though, accurate in describing some of what we are observing, quantum mechanics is presently a probability model of possible chance outcomes. Conceivably these new findings may help its progression into a model that describes subatomic particles and fields with more certainty. Perhaps photons, electrons, and matter can be described, not as waves, but as focal helical oscillation functions.
Particle- wave duality of light has perplexed the scientific community for several centuries. Our novel visualization of light behavior in free space encompassing settings of diffraction, refraction, and reflection has supported the particle theory and refuted wave concepts. In particular, the double slit fringe pattern has been directly shown to be pseudo-wave interference marks, contradicting 200 years of doctrine supporting wave concepts of light. As observations of optical properties are better explained by this model of discrete photon strands, we may return to Newtonian particle theory with a modern revision. We expect that this discovery of photon strands, which have not been described before, will have implications in physics, quantum mechanics, and technology and involve areas of optics, communication, computer science, and medical care. With the scientific method, we revise and improve upon traditional ideas with new information. We anticipate that this novel information about photon strand propagation of light will provide a launching point for further discovery.