Double slit-experiment confusion

  • I
  • Thread starter user30
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Confusion
In summary, the waveforms representing the paths a particle could have taken before it was shot out of the gun are described by math, and the reality of that waveform emerges when an experiment is performed that interacts with it.
  • #1
user30
96
11
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrödinger_equation

"Two-slit diffraction is a famous example of the strange behaviors that waves regularly display, that are not intuitively associated with particles. The overlapping waves from the two slits cancel each other out in some locations, and reinforce each other in other locations, causing a complex pattern to emerge. Intuitively, one would not expect this pattern from firing a single particle at the slits, because the particle should pass through one slit or the other, not a complex overlap of both."

since the Schrödinger equation is a wave equation, a single particle fired through a double-slit does show this same pattern (figure on right). The experiment must be repeated many times for the complex pattern to emerge."

Why does it need to be repeated many times for the pattern to emerge when the evolution is continious?

It does not state why in the article.

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
The detectors we use will produce a single "dot" per particle. How can you derive pattern from a single dot?
A number of dots is required to see the pattern. That's what they are saying.
 
  • #3
hutchphd said:
The detectors we use will produce a single "dot" per particle. How can you derive pattern from a single dot?
A number of dots is required to see the pattern. That's what they are saying.

It's the way it was phrased that confused me.
 
  • Like
Likes hutchphd
  • #4
Am I correct in understanding that the many paths/routes/avenues a photon ( or any subatomic or very small particle ) can take prior to even being shot out of the photon gun in this experiment, is described in physics using math as waveforms? The waveforms represent a concept and the math describes the concept, but there is no true reality of a waveform - it is not a physical entity. So the waveforms are already 'there' prior to the photon being shot out of the gun, and the waveforms have already 'created' all the pathways the photon can take, hence the diffraction pattern. It's like a different type of reality that we cannot yet explain. Only when you interact with the experiment ( eg - using a detector ) does a reality emerge, which we can understand with our known classical reality of physics.
 
  • #5
When the photon exits the device, it becomes part of the photon field. It can go through both slits and land in a classically incompatible spot on the plate. This is because 'particles' in the lowest scales are restricted from manifesting as classical by the HUP. They cannot have definite properties at all times or electrons would lose energy and spiral into the nucleus. They seemingly can have definite properties, when they get big enough or gain huge energy. It's weird that classical mechanics loses its grip in the micro scale. Lots of questions aren't sufficiently well answered to everybody's liking(there are few issues with qm, but there are many wrt to understanding the macro world now).
 

FAQ: Double slit-experiment confusion

What is the double slit experiment?

The double slit experiment is a classic physics experiment that demonstrates the wave-particle duality of light. It involves shining a beam of light through two parallel slits and observing the resulting interference pattern on a screen behind the slits.

How does the double slit experiment demonstrate wave-particle duality?

The interference pattern observed in the double slit experiment shows that light behaves like a wave, as it creates areas of constructive and destructive interference. However, when the experiment is repeated with a single photon at a time, the interference pattern still appears, indicating that light also behaves like a particle.

Why is the double slit experiment confusing?

The double slit experiment is confusing because it challenges our understanding of the nature of light. It shows that light can behave as both a wave and a particle, which goes against our everyday experiences and intuition.

What is the significance of the double slit experiment?

The double slit experiment has significant implications for our understanding of the fundamental nature of light and matter. It has led to the development of quantum mechanics, which has revolutionized our understanding of the microscopic world and has numerous practical applications in technology.

Are there any real-life applications of the double slit experiment?

Yes, the principles of the double slit experiment have been applied in various technologies, such as electron microscopy and diffraction gratings used in lasers and optical devices. It has also been used in experiments to study the behavior of other particles, such as electrons and atoms.

Back
Top