Designing An Electron Beam Gun for Two-Slits Experiment

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design and functionality of an electron beam gun in the context of the two-slit experiment, exploring how the size of the gun's emission point and environmental conditions might affect electron behavior and experimental outcomes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether an electron beam gun can be constructed with an emission point the exact size of an electron, suggesting that any deviation could influence the results of the two-slit experiment.
  • The same participant raises concerns about the experimental setup, specifically the need for a vacuum environment to prevent interference from other particles.
  • Another participant notes that electrons can enter the apparatus as a plane wave and still produce an interference pattern, indicating that a point source is not necessary for the experiment.
  • This participant also mentions that the two-slit experiment has been conducted using various detectors and emphasizes the requirement for a vacuum when working with electrons.
  • A further contribution highlights that interference patterns have been observed in systems beyond free electrons in vacuum, such as in superconductors, suggesting broader implications for the phenomenon.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of the gun's emission point size and the implications of the experimental setup, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the impact of the electron gun's design and environmental conditions on experimental results, as well as the applicability of findings from different experimental setups.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying quantum mechanics, experimental physics, and the design of particle detectors, as well as individuals curious about the nuances of the two-slit experiment.

masonstjon
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Can an electron beam gun be made to where the very end of the gun (the end that the electron is emitted from) can be made to be the exact size of an electron?

The reason I ask is this: In attempts to discover how an electron travels through the two-slits experiement, it was determined that the electron has "wave-like" properties. This was one of the big steps toward quantum mechanics.

But...How were these experiments truly performed? Did they have the electron gun, the two slits, the measuring plate behind in a completely vacuumed room with no other particles whatsoever in it. And was the gun point made to be the size of an electron?

If not, then any of the aformentioned items could have changed the results. Since Electrons are sooooo small, then even the gun's barrel could have allowed the electron to have "bounced" around before being emitted. This could easily change the resulting position of the electron.

And finally, has the two-slits experiment been done with measuring plates fully circling the entire experiement area to measure where electrons might have ended up?
 
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The electron can enter the apparatus as a plane wave and still exhibit the interference pattern, so it doesn't have to come from a point source. The two slit experiment has been done with several kinds of detectors, photograpic film, scintillation screens etc.. And yes, for the electron the experiment has to be carried out in a vacuum.
 
Tyger said:
The electron can enter the apparatus as a plane wave and still exhibit the interference pattern, so it doesn't have to come from a point source. The two slit experiment has been done with several kinds of detectors, photograpic film, scintillation screens etc.. And yes, for the electron the experiment has to be carried out in a vacuum.

The interference pattern has also been observed from a josephson junction of a superconductor, so this phenomena is not restricted to free electrons moving in vacuum alone.

Zz.
 
Thank you ZapperZ, for adding that. I hadn't thought of that possibility.
 
Thanks gang!
 

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