Quantum Phenomena May Not Need Particles: The Mechanical Universe: Lecture 4

Links to Simulations: https://jsfiddle.net/u/Chenopdodium/c... https://jsfiddle.net/u/Chenopdodium/c... https://jsfiddle.net/u/Chenopdodium/c... Sergey Rashkovskiy: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/... Is light really made of tiny particles called photons, or could it simply be waves in an underlying elastic medium? This episode explores a provocative alternative viewpoint: that what we've long assumed as proof of "photons" - the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and the blackbody spectrum - might instead reflect how quantized matter interacts with continuous waves. We revisit foundational experiments and ask the questions: Are discrete detection events evidence of discrete particles, or can they arise naturally from resonance and wave phenomena? Through intuitive examples and careful reasoning, we'll show how discrete detector clicks don't automatically imply particle-like photons. The analogy with phonons in solids offers clarity: phonons are treated as particles in equations but are undeniably waves. We re-examine Einstein’s photoelectric effect, Compton’s momentum exchange, and Planck’s blackbody radiation with fresh eyes. Could the universe be a real elastic continuum, supporting everything - fields, matter, charge - as pure excitations? Key points discussed: Why quantization naturally emerges from waves constrained by boundaries. How continuous waves interacting with quantized matter elegantly explain the photoelectric effect. Wave-based interpretations of Compton scattering and blackbody radiation. Experimental evidence difficult to reconcile with particle-only views, such as Wiener’s standing-wave patterns. If you've ever wondered if there's a deeper wave reality behind quantum mechanics, tune in and challenge your intuition!   / inductica   https://x.com/inductica   / inductica   Inductica.org