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Questions tagged [double-slit-experiment]

The double slit experiment involves passing light through two parallel slits to demonstrate that the light from one slit interferes with that from the other.

This tag is for questions related to the double slit experiment.

The double slit experiment, also called Young's double slit experiment after Thomas Young (1773–1829) who first performed it, passes light through two small parallel slits. Behind the slits is a flat surface. The light that hits the surface is "banded", with alternating series of lighter and darker sections. This pattern is called an interference pattern.

This pattern corresponds to the wavelength of the light. In the center of the pattern, the light rays from both slits travel the same distance to hit the surface, and the two rays reinforce each other to produce a bright spot. At a neighboring light section, the light from one slit travels one wavelength farther than the other, and the rays again reinforce each other. In between, in the dark spot, the rays interfere with each other, essentially canceling each other out.

More information is available on Wikipedia.

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Double Slit experiment with just one photon or electron

I just recently watched a video where they were explaining the double slit experiment. I understand that the interference pattern would be observed if you send photons or electrons one after the other. The conclusion that the author seems to make is…
mehfoos
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New version of double-slit experiment

I am trying to find a definite answer whether the following version of the double-slit experiment has ever been performed. Calculate/observe what interference pattern should appear by emitting photons individually one-by-one through the double-slit…
Murtuza Vadharia
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Double Slit Information Destruction

In the double slit experiment, when a detector is added to tell which hole the photon went through the interference pattern disappears. Would there be an interference pattern if the data was sent to a computer, but never recorded? What if it was…
Mardymar
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How to prove wave nature of large object?

In double slit experiment only small sized particles were used. however if we use large objects such as a tennis ball, the expected pattern is not observed. Why the wave nature is not visible for large objects in double slit experiment ? How do I…
gpuguy
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Double slit experiment but submerged in solution

Imagine the familiar setup of the double slit experiment using laser but it is submerged in a tank filled with water, would there be any interference pattern? I also read somewhere that tonic water contains quinine which glows in black light or…
user6760
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Double slit experiment with electron one at a time

I understand how a wave create the interference pattern, but what is the mechanism for a single electron after it pass the slit and scatter and land at different location on the screen to produce the same interference pattern. Does the electron pass…
Rajesh Marndi
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The Double Slit Experiment - delayed measurement

I'm not a physicist; I'm just curious about what would happen. According to this video "Explained ! The Double Slit Experiment" (at 2:50): "Somebody decided to leave the detectors on but just not take any data. [...] So if it was also going to a…
Xeon
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Does the thickness of a slit play a role in the fringe pattern of either the double or single slit experiment?

So it is widely known that the width of the slit affects the interference pattern. And the double slit experiment is a demonstration of the wave nature of light. But i could casually see how the thickness of the slits would effect the particle…
Lambaste
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How does the detector at the double slit work?

How are the particles in the double slit experiment detected when we detect them going through one slit or the other? My assumption has been that the detector itself must interact with the particle in some way, is this the case? How did the first…
Prior
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In a double-slit experiment, why can't we discover which slit a particle went through by measuring when the particle was detected

In a double-slit experiment, interference implies that the particle has traveled different distances from the 2 slits. Since the speed of light is constant, it seems to me that the particle would arrive at the detector at a different time if it…
Thanacles
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What is meant by "observing the photon's path" or "observing which slit a photon passes through" in double slit experiment?

It is said that in the double slit experiment one will prevent the interference of the photon with itself by simply observing which path the photon. Here is a very first Google result for "double split experiment": To find out, you might place a…
daniel.sedlacek
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In firing a single photon at the center divider of a double slit, does it ALWAYS go through the slits?

If we think of a single photon approaching the slits as a wave function, and we fire the photons at the midpoint of the two slits, one at a time, then I would think the probability function is highest at this midpoint. That would mean that,…
Vim Schrotnock
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In the double slit experiment, would a gravity detector cause wave function collapse?

In the double slit experiment, if a sufficiently sensitive instrument capable of detecting the gravity of the passing electron were used in place of a photon, would this cause wave function collapse? I wonder about this because it could possibly…
Mike
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Once Which-Way information is known, and the photon passes through another double slit, can it become a wave again?

So was thinking if we construct 2 levels of double slit experiments where in the first we know whichway information, and then the same photons pass through a second double slit experiment, will they form an interference pattern if we do not know…
Asfandyar Uppal
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In the double slit experiment for electrons, what are the materials used for the detection screen?

for example, what material is used as the detection screen for electrons. What materials can be used when conducting the experiment to be able to see the detected electrons on the detection screen?
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