Dual slit experiment: closing/opening a slit after the particle passes it. .

In summary, the Dual Slit Experiment is a scientific experiment that demonstrates the wave-particle duality of light and matter. It involves shining a beam of particles through two parallel slits and observing the resulting interference pattern. Closing one of the slits causes the interference pattern to disappear and the particle to behave like a single particle. Opening a third slit after the first two results in the interference pattern reappearing and the particle behaving like a wave. This experiment tells us that particles can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behaviors, known as wave-particle duality, and is closely related to the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics.
  • #1
Valenciennes
1
0
Hello everyone,

I recall reading some time ago about an extension to the dual-slit experiment, where researchers either closed or opened a 2nd slit after the particle passed the slit but before it hit the detector.

Does anyone know about this research, like the results, and who performed it?


Thanks!
 
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  • #2
If you open/close the slit after the particle passes, everything will be the same as if you have not did it.

Perhaps you were actually reading about delayed choice experiments, but that's something different.
 
  • #3


Hello there,

Thank you for bringing up this interesting topic. The experiment you are referring to is known as the "delayed choice quantum eraser" experiment. It was first proposed by physicist John Wheeler in the 1970s and has been performed by several researchers since then, including Marlan Scully, Serge Haroche, and Anton Zeilinger.

In this experiment, a single photon is sent through a double-slit apparatus and then directed towards a detector. However, before reaching the detector, the photon's path is either "erased" or "not erased" by closing or opening a second slit. This choice is made after the photon has already passed through the first slit.

The results of this experiment have been quite intriguing and have raised many questions about the nature of quantum mechanics. Some studies have shown that when the second slit is closed, the interference pattern disappears, indicating that the photon behaves as a particle. However, when the second slit is opened, the interference pattern reappears, suggesting that the photon behaves as a wave. This phenomenon has been attributed to the concept of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics.

Overall, the delayed choice quantum eraser experiment has provided valuable insights into the behavior of particles at the quantum level. It continues to be a topic of research and discussion in the scientific community. I hope this information helps answer your question.

 

What is the Dual Slit Experiment?

The Dual Slit Experiment is a scientific experiment that demonstrates the wave-particle duality of light and matter. It involves shining a beam of particles, such as electrons or photons, through two parallel slits onto a screen and observing the resulting interference pattern.

What happens when you close one of the slits after the particle has passed through it?

If one of the slits is closed after the particle has passed through it, the interference pattern will disappear and the particle will behave like a single particle, creating a single bright spot on the screen behind the remaining open slit.

What happens when you open a third slit after the particle has passed through the first two?

If a third slit is opened after the particle has passed through the first two, the interference pattern will reappear and the particle will behave like a wave, creating multiple bright spots on the screen behind all three open slits.

What does the Dual Slit Experiment tell us about the nature of particles?

The Dual Slit Experiment tells us that particles, such as electrons or photons, can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behaviors. This concept is known as wave-particle duality and is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics.

How does the Dual Slit Experiment relate to the uncertainty principle?

The Dual Slit Experiment is closely related to the uncertainty principle, which states that the more precisely we know the position of a particle, the less precisely we can know its momentum, and vice versa. In the Dual Slit Experiment, the act of observing the particle's position at the slits affects its path, resulting in a different interference pattern. This demonstrates the inherent uncertainty in measuring both the position and momentum of a particle at the same time.

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