Insights into students' understanding of quantum physics: visualizing quantum entities

Ninety years after the genesis of quantum physics significant research on students' understanding of such revolutionary phenomena is beginning to emerge. What are photons really like? Are they like particles or waves? Are they like both particles and waves, or like neither? The implications of quantum theory for the commonsense notion of an object illustrate the difficulties in using ordinary experience to make sense of the subatomic world. Part of the findings of a series of studies investigating students' understanding of quantum physics is presented, describing students' visualizations of quantum entities (i.e. electrons and photons).