Question: do wave functions always need a surface, or only sometimes?

[Curiouser]

1. We are accustomed to think of sound occurring "in" air (occasionally, for whales, underwater), and radio or light "in" air or the attentuated matter of outer space, and so on. 

2. But ripples / breakers / surf are a surface phenomenon especially. 

I see that these latter (2) are obviously more complex - but are there hidden or ignored subtleties in the former cases (1) also?  Is it simply that in those cases (1), the "topology" is merely in our eyes / ears / instruments instead of under our boats or against our beaches?

Also what about apparent wave functions expressed statistically in subatomic "fields" (such as Sabine Hossenfelder has written about): is a "wave" a convenient way of thinking in fewer dimensions?  (Dimensions = basically to measure apart, hence perhaps not that sensational)

Levers, carriages, wheels and wings are ways of translating a one dimensional force into travel for three-dimensional objects in three dimensions of space and one of time, while logarithms and trigonometry replace multiplying with simple adding.

When we are looking at extra small things, is the data largely confirming that we can't see extra small things all that well?  And shouldn't that reassure everyone about methods (including inferential ones) that we know, instead of this feverish revolutionary freefall atmosphere?

[HallsofIvy]

No one that I know thinks that light or radio waves are waves "in the attenuated matter of space"!  Where did you get that idea?

What we see of "ripples, breakers, and surf" are, of course the the surface but what we see wouldn't exist without the motion of water deep under the surface.  The wave is not just what we see on the surface!

All the things you are asking about are well known to physics.  What "feverish freefall atmosphere" are you talking about?

[HallsofIvy]

On 9/16/2021 at 6:46 PM, JeffreysTubes8 said:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=XhdrDPOfpJM

Okay, Neil Degrasse Tyson says a lot about light, radio, and microwaves but says NOTHING at all about a physical conductor for the waves.  This youtube discussion has nothing to do with what you were talking about!

[Dubbelosix]

The wave funtction may spread over a surface. But most wave functions are not limited to mere simple geometry.

Edited October 11, 2021 by Dubbelosix