Double slit experiment Definition and 484 Threads

  1. E

    In the double slit experiment - what exactly is the measuring device?

    In the double slit experiment - what exactly is the measuring device? .. the have to measure witch slit the photon went trough - how do they do it? - measuring anything means interacting with it. Changing it, really. So, isn't it obvious that interacting with the photon in any way will...
  2. R

    How Are Slits Made for the Double Slit Experiment?

    Hello all, I have some questions in regards to the double slit experiment. Now I apologise if some of these seem very basic, likewise if they are very hard to explain, however it is something I would like to get a better grasp on. First, you are firing out of said ‘gun’; let’s say a...
  3. C

    Which wave function and operator is responsible for the Double Slit Experiment?

    I know this may be a completely stupid question and it's so fundamental but... As we all know the first thing we learn is basically the duality between waves and particles (e.g electron). This is shown via the double slit experiment. Now I know how to explain it if it were water waves, and...
  4. T

    Double Slit Experiment on Refracted light?

    Has anyone done the double slit experiment on light after being refracted into its separate colors of the spectrum? (Hope I asked this right, because I'm curious if each individual color still behaves the same way as when unrefracted light is passed through the two slits) I guess what I'm...
  5. J

    Far-field interference pattern in double slit experiment

    Homework Statement An interference experiment employs two narrow parallel slits of separation 0.25mm, and monochromatic light of wavelength \lambda = 500 nm. Estimate the minimum distance that the projection screen must be placed behind the slits in order to obtain a far-field interference...
  6. C

    Measuring one slit in double slit experiment

    In double slit experiment, what if we put a detector on one slit, instead of both slits. Does the interference pattern appear or not? I think, if superposition principle is true and particles passing through both slits at the same time, measuring one slit will be enough to collapse its wave...
  7. M

    Double Slit Experiment: Q&A on Photon Detection

    I have a simple question about the double slit experiment for which I couldn't find an answer elsewhere. Lets say that I shoot one million photons from the source while keeping only the first slit open and that I detect N1 photons on the screen behind the slits. If I now shoot one million...
  8. J

    Young's Double Slit Experiment (Diffraction)

    A lecturer is demonstrating two-slit interference with sound waves. Two speakers are used, 1.9 m apart. The sound frequency is 1220Hz and the speed of sound is 343 m/s. Students sit facing the speakers in a row of sear 5.4 m away. Along the row of students, what is the spacing between the...
  9. L

    Double slit experiment with electrons and larger particles

    The where the interference tassles appear on the film at the double slit experiment, made the conclusion that the waveleghth λ of the wave of the red right is λ=(that much). For the blue light, λ=(that much), and so on. But I cannot find the λ=(that much) for the experiment with electrons and...
  10. J

    Young's Double Slit Experiment Problem

    A lecturer is demonstrating two-slit interference with sound waves. Two speakers are used, 1.9 m apart. The sound frequency is 1220Hz and the speed of sound is 343 m/s. Students sit facing the speakers in a row of sear 5.4 m away. Along the row of students, what is the spacing between the...
  11. O

    Origin of Photons Irrelevant in Double Slit Experiment?

    If I "create" a stream of photons in the lab or if I spectographically select a stream of photons from a star, I get the same experimental result in a double slit experiment? In other words there is no difference between photons whose point of origin can be deduced to be eons ago vs those...
  12. T

    Quantum double slit experiment

    Hi, I've been reading about an experiment, where photons are fired through a double slit, and they act as if they go through both slits, by interfering with themselves, and creating an interference pattern on a screen behind. Then if a measuring device is used to see which slit the photon...
  13. J

    Delayed-choice double slit experiment

    Hi PF. I've finished reading Hawking's "The Grand Design", it was a great book. I'm not a taught physicist but I've always been interested in physics, and I study maths at university. My question was relating to the section where Hawking describes the delayed-choice version of the double slit...
  14. T

    What would happen in this double slit experiment?

    Hi, I was reading Hawking's "The Grand Design" and I came up with a question I didn't know the answer to. He describes a variant of the two slit experiment with particles where a faint light is shone on the slits to determine which one each particle goes through. Naturally this destroys the...
  15. mrspeedybob

    Contemplating an apparent paradox in the classic double slit experiment.

    Here is a thought experiment to illustrate the problem... Suppose you have a light source capable of emitting single photons on command from a computer. these photons travel through a barrier with two parallel slits and then strike a charge coupled device. The computer records each strike and...
  16. T

    Observing the double slit experiment

    In this experiment wave particle duality is shown. Without observation the wave function is used. With observation the particle function is used. My question is what is the definition of observation? Specifically in the case of an electron gun is the observer a conductive piece of material...
  17. I

    The Double Slit Experiment from a Photon Point of View

    Hi, When reading about the Double Slit Experiment, often the author will rave about something like 'the photon must pass through both slits at the same time'. I'm struggling a bit with the simple phrasing of this statement, and can't come to terms with two questions I have: Isn't the...
  18. T

    Double slit experiment with detectors not recording

    In the double slit experiment, a beam of electrons forms an interference pattern on a screen after passing through two slits. If you place a detector on one or both of the slits, the electrons do not form an interference pattern. In this video: Physicist Thomas Campbell makes the...
  19. R

    Double Slit Experiment: Why Isn't Wave Function Collapsed?

    question about the double split experiment. So detectors placed at the slits create the wave function collapse of the photon! why doesn't the actual slit experiment itself create the wave function collapse?
  20. B

    Double Slit Experiment & Relativistic Simultaneity

    In the double slit experiment, an observer appears to change the behavior of the particle/wave. Would it be possible to use relativistic simultaneity to explain the change in behavior of particles/waves? A potential passing by, and being observed by an observer, causes the potential to become...
  21. C

    Exploring Wave Function Collapse and the Double Slit Experiment

    I'm still wrestling with the whole uncertainty principal / wave function collapse idea. Obviously a basic building block of QM, I'm having a hard time understanding the real world evidence which supports these QM piles. 1. So from my understanding, the uncertainty principle tells us it is...
  22. S

    Double Slit Experiment: Particles, Interference & Measurement

    The first question is, how does a single particle(say a photon) interfere with itself? Next, how does measuring it interfere with the interfering pattern? Need help on those please! Thanks!
  23. D

    Ground state hydrogen parallel to the double slit experiment?

    In the double slit experiment the electron can go through either slit. As long as it is not observed there is an interference pattern as the two possibilities superimpose. The common conclusion to this is that the electron goes through both slits. Is there a parallel with the ground state...
  24. A

    Young's double slit experiment fringes

    I have some questions regarding Young's double slit experiment. 1.The first concerns the no. of possible fringes that will be formed. Sample question is as: Slit Separation = 1mm and wavelength of light is 5250 A. No. of illuminated fringes=? The basic problem is that I don't understand...
  25. fluidistic

    What Are the Key Distances in a Double Slit Experiment with 632.8 nm Light?

    Homework Statement A extent ray of light with wavelength \lambda _0=632.8 nm incide over a screen containing 2 horizontal parallel slits very thin and separated by a distance of 0.2 mm. We observe an interferance over a screen at 1.00 meter away from the screen containing the horizontal...
  26. C

    Interfering Photons: How Paul Dirac Explained the Double Slit Experiment

    If photon's cannot couple with other photons , then when we shoot photons through a double slit and we get an interference pattern , How are the photons interfering with the other photons , and if there is no such thing as half photon like the photon is either absorbed or it is not ...
  27. D

    Quantum aspect of light waves with connection with Youngs Double Slit Experiment

    So let's say for example there is a slide with two slits on it infront of a screen. A beam of electrons is aimed at it. A) What would happen to the size of the fringes on the screen if I decreased the spacing between the slits B) What would happen to the fringes if I moved the screen...
  28. M

    Time period measured in double slit experiment

    In the standard double slit experiment, what time period is measured between the emission (t=0) and detection (t=T) of a single photon? I ask because clearly the photon does not take a single, well-defined path, as it would if it were a classical particle. Suppose that I set up an experiment...
  29. O

    Understanding Young's Double Slit Experiment: Why 4.5 Fringes Shift?

    I have a problem on Young's double slits which says that the central bright fringe shifts 4.5? fringes after a piece of plastic is placed in front one of the slits. My question is: Why is the central bright fringe shifted for 4.5 fringes? Shouldn't it be 0.5 fringe instead since maximum...
  30. H

    Using young's double slit experiment

    can it be possible that using young's double slit experiment or by any metod on converging and magnifying the intensity of microwaves it can give same effect as LASER
  31. M

    Measurement problem in double slit experiment

    In double slit experiment of electron, we see an interference pattern when we don’t know through which slit electron has passed and we don’t see an interference pattern when we know through which slit electron has passed. Now, to identify the slit through which electron has passed, we use...
  32. K

    Find wavelength in double slit experiment

    Homework Statement Two narrow slits are 0.4 mm apart. The dark fringe of order 5 is 1.2 degrees from the central bright fringe. What is the wavelength of the light in nm? Homework Equations dsin(theta) = (m +1/2)lambda where d = distance between silts m=order lambda = wavelength...
  33. P

    Double Slit Experiment Questions: Detectors

    Hi Everyone, I'm trying to fill in some gaps in my understanding of the double slit experiment. I think I'm most confused about the detectors. Before I start asking questions, I'd like to spell out what I think I understand with a summary: --- Summary of DSE --- Equipment 1. source...
  34. R

    Most basic double slit experiment question

    Mechanically speaking, where is the photon emitter aimed when there are 2 slits? If the experimenter was using an accurate emitter, wouldn't he/she expect the photons to hit only where it was aimed, e.g. either one slit or neither slit? Is it that the emitter oscillates, so it can aim at each of...
  35. K

    Double slit experiment, observer effect

    It was a good while ago since I heard about this particular experiment, but I remember vaguely reading about how in one instance they recorded the observations, but then deleted the data before anyone could look at it, and in that instance the wave was still produced. Thus showing that it really...
  36. K

    Can we do double slit experiment using quasiparticles?

    Can we do double slit experiment using ,let's say phonons.
  37. K

    Young's double slit experiment (shallow slit and deep slit)

    i have posted a video on youtube,where i did the double slit experiment,firstly with a shallow slit,then with a slit approx 35 times thicker,then did the experiment without lens on laser,i would like to have a chat about what it all shows,and what it says to you (any one)
  38. LarryS

    Double Slit Experiment and Measurements

    When a photon encounters a beam splitter, say a half-silvered mirror, there is a 50-50 chance it will be reflected or passed (tunneling). Does being reflected/passed constitute a QM "measurement"? Thanks in advance.
  39. E

    Why can't I see the interference pattern in the double slit experiment?

    I'm reading the double slit experiment (Cohen-Tannoudji chapter 1 - complement D) and it is said: "We are going to consider Young's double slit experiment again to demonstrate how complementary and uncertainty relations are intimately related. Assume that the plate P, in which the slits are...
  40. M

    Is Wave-Particle Duality Really Real? An Analysis of the Double Slit Experiment

    Hi all, I'm not trained in physics beyond high school but have a healthy interest and understand a little quantum physics and special (still grappling with general!) relativity. Here's a quick question on a pop.science book I'm reading at the moment. The book is by Marcus Chown, it's called...
  41. P

    Does Distance Affect the Double-Slit Experiment?

    Does the distance from the photon/electron gun to the slit matter at all? Or even the distance from the slit to the photographic plate?
  42. K

    Interference fringes in Young's Double Slit Experiment

    Homework Statement Light of two wavelenghts L1 and L2 (L1,L2 = lambda)creates interference fringes in the Young's double slit experiment. To calculate the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes for both L1 and L2 coincide. Given: the distance 'd' between the two...
  43. T

    Shooting humans through a giant double slit experiment

    Lets say some aliens scaled up the two slit experiment to an enormous size. It is so large that shooting 100kg masses of carbon through the slits creates a diffraction pattern. The aliens then decide to replace the carbon with some captive humans and shoot them through the slits to see what...
  44. S

    Slit for the Double Slit Experiment

    I was wondering where could I get a slit for the Double Slit Exeriment that I am trying to do.Thanks
  45. DaveC426913

    Double slit experiment - with molecules?

    I was browsing about the double slit experiment and found the following tidbit on Wiki: (emphasis mine) I knew that electrons could interfere with themselves - I understand how an electron can act like a wave. Even an atom I can understand. But a molecule? This isn't merely suggesting...
  46. T

    2 Questions on superpostion (Double slit experiment)

    Question 1: Why is it required for the slit separation to be at least one wavelength in the double slit experiment? Question 2: Why do we need to place a single slit before a double slit in the double slit experiment? Thanks in advance
  47. A

    Double slit experiment with spin

    Hi everyone, I have a question concerning the double slit experiment that I would like clarified. According to a book I am reading if the electrons passing through slit A are of spin up and the electrons passing through B are of spin down then there will be no interference pattern (just the...
  48. JK423

    Double slit experiment in a Bubble Chamber

    Has this type of experiment ever been performed? Firing electrons one at a time we can easily get the which-path information and see if interference dissapears or not. What actually happens? Also, if we do the double slit experiment with a usual laser but in a smoked environment (in order to...
  49. J

    Double Slit Experiment - Blind Observer

    Hi, I have a question about the famous double slit experiment. They say that if an observer like a camera or a person is watching the experiment then it collapses the wave function and two marks appear instead of an interference pattern. Does anyone know what what happen if a totally...
  50. C

    Thomas Young's Double Slit Experiment

    I have to recreate Thomas Young's Double slit experiment and take pictures of the interference patters for a research paper. My teacher has a powerful red laser at school that I can use, though i know that the interference pattern changes with the changing frequencies. I was wondering if a 5 mw...
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