0
$\begingroup$

I recently read somewhere that electrons do not exist. it's just the electron density. Is it true that there are no electrons (particles) but only in the form of electron density? And does this contradict the fact of dual nature of electron?

$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ You should ask what is electron density - it's density of probability of finding an electron $\endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    May 30, 2015 at 13:47
  • 4
    $\begingroup$ Electrons exist. I think you are having trouble more with What are electrons?. Are they particles, waves, charge density distributions or some quantum mechanical weirdness that has properties of all of these? $\endgroup$
    – Ben Norris
    May 30, 2015 at 13:52

1 Answer 1

8
$\begingroup$

Of course, electrons do exist. We have a myriads of observations confirming their existence. What does not exist is working classical picture of an electron. Electrons can behave in certain circumstances like waves, in some other - like particles. That is already nonsense from the classical physics point of view with its universal dichotomy: something is either a particle or a wave.

But the trickiest part of the wave-particle duality is that despite the fact that electrons can behave as waves and as particles, their are, strictly speaking, neither of them. Our language developed on the basis of observations of macroscopic surroundings with its well-established classical notions of waves and particles is simply inappropriate for the description of the microscopic phenomena. Thus, whenever one tries to use any language except for that of mathematics to describe microscopic world he/she quickly runs into apparent paradoxes.

With respect to the desire of pictorial classical description of an electron I feel like the only thing I have to do is to quote Paul Dirac:

[…] the main object of physical science is not the provision of pictures, but is the formulation of laws governing phenomena and the application of these laws to the discovery of new phenomena. If a picture exists, so much the better; but whether a picture exists or not is a matter of only secondary importance. In the case of atomic phenomena no picture can be expected to exist in the usual sense of the word 'picture', by which is meant a model functioning essentially on classical lines. One may, however, extend the meaning of the word 'picture' to include any way of looking at the fundamental laws which makes their self-consistency obvious. With this extension, one may gradually acquire a picture of atomic phenomena by becoming familiar with the laws of the quantum theory.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.