The theory of unity and wave-particle duality?

Question

Max Plank concluded that electromagnetic waves were made up of “packets of quanta” and later Einstein stated that they are actually photons which lead to the theory of unity and wave-particle duality.

my question is was this theory ever validated in a laboratory setting? has anyone proved this? I am an Astronomy grad. and I don’t remember anything about this and I need to know for a writing project I am doing. a reference of source would be much appreciated but not necessary because as long as I get the general idea I will confirm it myself.

one more thing, do you think that wave-particle duality had anything to do with the idea of string theory?

Thanks

Answer 1

The theory of unity?  Yes, experiments support both the wave theory (diffraction) and the particle theories of light (photoelectric effect), hence: duality, as well as the overall quantum field theory, which unifies all the forces except gravity.

String theory explains everything; matter and all the fundamental forces (electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force AND gravity) but has made no testable predictions...yet.  I suppose, like the duality and quantum mechanics, the string model also strays from classical physics, in terms of being abstract, full of "singularity" and hard to imagine and explain in concrete terms. But the big difference is that, while it is totally unproven, and makes no testable predictions, the mathematics of string theory explains gravity and quantum theory.

Answer 2

Ever validated?  Yes yes and yes, many times over.  Quantum theory is one of the most successful theories EVER!  Quantum electrodynamics is one of the most precise branches of physics we have.