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How Much to Say About Photons in the First Course on Quantum Physics?

Photons, ’the particles of light’, are in foundations and beginnings of quantum physics not only historically, but also essentially and conceptually. On the other hand, to calculate properly with photons, which are so easily emitted (created) and absorbed (destroyed), one needs even at low energies a formalism beyond fixed number of quantum particles - that is, the formalism of quantum field theory. However, it is much more complicated than the formalism of quantum mechanics with a fixed number of quantum particles. So, while one should say on photons as much as possible within available room in a concrete curriculum, one should not say too much in the beginning courses, to avoid confusing students with material they are not (yet) ready to grasp. Thus, in each particular curriculum, one should solve the problem of the right measure where to stop, and with a good closure regarding overlaps and connections with other topics (e.g., statistical physics and thermodynamics in the case of black-body radiation).

Quantum physics, photon, quantum particles, quantons, pedagogical problem, education

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