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LeLuke
Lv 5
LeLuke asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 3 years ago

Question on the double slit experiment?

So when we don't observe which slit the electron goes through the electron behaves as a wave and the results are an interference pattern.

When we do observe which slit it goes through the electron then behaves as a particle.

Mystery?

Call me crazy, but why hasn't anyone considered the fact that whatever detection method we used to observe the electron, altered the electron? That was my immediate thought, so I went and researched the double slit experiment some more. No matter where I go I can't seem to find a detailed description of how we observe which slit the electron passed through. Every article or video I watch just says we observed. How? Does anyone know?

I'm telling you guys, whatever device that was used to detect which slit the electron passed through somehow altered the electron, and thus the results.

2 Answers

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  • Jeffrey K
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    Double slit experiments have been done using large atoms or molecules which are observed using low energy photons. Interference effects disappear even when the photon's energy is too low to deflect the atom's path. Also, an observation can be made without disturbing the particle at all by using entangled particles and observing only its partner. Interference pattern disappears in this case too. It really is true that just gaining knowledge of which slit collapses the wavefunctuon and ruins the interference pattern.

  • Andrew Smith
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    I had written a detailed response but it would probably be shot down in flames. You cannot attack dogma with reason. Not today.

    Suffice to say that it is my understanding that a SINGLE electron can interfere with itself.

    ie put one electron into the system and record where it ends up at the far end. Now put in another one.

    Never more than one at a time.

    The result is the classic interference pattern. The obvious conclusion is that each and every electron passed through both slits simultaneously.

    This happened whether we observed it or not.

    Not a popular view today though.

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