Evidence for a particulate photon?

Problematic evidence for a particle nature of light.

It is commonly accepted that light has a dual particle/wave nature. This is what kickstarted the whole field of Quantum Mechanics. a theory that, in essence, tries to formulate and describe the apparent duality and perceived paradoxicality in our intuition of the universe.

There is overwhelming evidence for the wave-like behavior of light. In this article, however, I want to focus primarily on reasons we think light shows particle-like behavior.

Why is light a particle?

There are a few pieces of supporting evidence for the particle nature of light, the most important of which is the Photoelectric effect. so let’s start with that!

Photoelectric effect:

This is one of the most fundamental mechanisms in our world, making photosynthesis and life on earth possible.

In 1887, German physicist, Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, discovered that ultra-violet light could reduce the voltage required to induce a spark between two metal electrodes. This was before the discovery of the electron itself in 1897!
In 1902, another German physicist demonstrated that light causes electrons to be released from a metal surface.
Apparently, this could…