What happens if the screen in young's double slit experiment is replac

In summary, when the screen in Young's double slit experiment is replaced with a photoelectric material, electrons are only emitted from regions with constructive interference, suggesting that light exhibits both wave and particle nature. However, this interpretation is not mutually exclusive and can be explained through the interaction of quantized electrons and a classical electromagnetic wave. This concept is further discussed in modern books on quantum mechanics, such as Landau, Lifshitz, Course on Theoretical Physics III, Quantum Mechanics.
  • #1
junfan02
17
0
What happens if the screen in young's double slit experiment is replaced with a photoelectric material?
Electrons should be emitted only from regions where constructive interference occurs! Doesn't that mean in this case light will depic both wave and particle nature? That is clearly not possible.
Where am I wrong?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
junfan02 said:
What happens if the screen in young's double slit experiment is replaced with a photoelectric material?
Electrons should be emitted only from regions where constructive interference occurs! Doesn't that mean in this case light will depic both wave and particle nature? That is clearly not possible.
Where am I wrong?

Anytime that light (a photon) is absorbed, you might say that the particle nature of light is evidenced. You don't need a photoelectric setup to say that.
 
  • #3
So the two things aren't mutually exclusive?
 
  • #4
junfan02 said:
So the two things aren't mutually exclusive?

You will find that it comes down to a matter of interpretation. There is nothing about the idea that violates any quantum mechanical rules.
 
  • #5
Despite repeated claims in the popular-science literature there's no wave-particle duality in modern QED, and the photoelectric effect does not prove the quantum nature of the em. field. It's described very well as the interaction of quantized electrons bound in the metal with a classical em. wave.
 
  • #6
vanhees71 said:
Despite repeated claims in the popular-science literature there's no wave-particle duality in modern QED, and the photoelectric effect does not prove the quantum nature of the em. field. It's described very well as the interaction of quantized electrons bound in the metal with a classical em. wave.

Could you please suggest me a reference so I can read more about it?
 
  • #7
The photo effect is treated in many modern books about quantum mechanics in the chapter on time-dependent perturbation theory, e.g., in

Landau, Lifshitz, Course on Theoretical Physics III, Quantum Mechanics.
 

What happens if the screen in Young's double slit experiment is replaced with a glass plate?

Replacing the screen with a glass plate would not significantly affect the outcome of the experiment. The interference pattern produced by the double slits would still be visible, as long as the glass plate is thin enough to allow the light to pass through.

What happens if one of the slits in Young's double slit experiment is covered?

If one of the slits is covered, the interference pattern will disappear and a single slit diffraction pattern will be observed. This is because the two sources of light (the two slits) are no longer in phase with each other, resulting in destructive interference.

Can the distance between the slits in Young's double slit experiment affect the interference pattern?

Yes, the distance between the slits can affect the interference pattern. As the distance between the slits increases, the fringes of the interference pattern become closer together, resulting in a wider central bright spot and narrower bright fringes.

What happens if the light source in Young's double slit experiment is changed?

Changing the light source can affect the interference pattern in several ways. If the wavelength of the light is changed, the distance between the fringes will also change. If the intensity of the light is changed, the brightness of the fringes will also change. Additionally, if the light is polarized, the orientation of the polarized light can also affect the interference pattern.

What happens if the double slits in Young's double slit experiment are replaced with single slits?

If the double slits are replaced with single slits, the interference pattern will disappear and a single slit diffraction pattern will be observed. This is because there is only one source of light (the single slit), resulting in a single wavefront that spreads out and creates a diffraction pattern on the screen.

Similar threads

I Why is there no single slit interference when one slit is closed in a double slit experiment?
    • Quantum Physics
2
Replies
55
Views
1K
I "Wave-particle duality" and double-slit experiment
    • Quantum Physics
2
Replies
36
Views
1K
B What is causing destructive interference in double slit experiment?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
32
Views
2K
I Double-slit experiment, determining which slit an electron passed thru
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
26
Views
1K
I Young's Double Slit Experiment: Is it Possible?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
3
Views
735
B Double Double Slit Experiment -- Question about Variations
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
3
Views
785
I Double slit experiment with observer
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
14
Views
1K
I Repulsion before the screen in a double-slit experiment
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
11
Views
822
I Quantum Mechanics vs Einstein: Light Btwn Black Holes, Double Slit Experiment
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
3
Views
782
I Is it possible for a BBO crystal to produce an interference pattern?
    • Quantum Physics
Replies
1
Views
646

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top