Brainstorming the double slit experiment

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the double slit experiment, exploring its implications for light and other particles, as well as the challenges of applying quantum field theory (QFT) to this phenomenon. Participants share their thoughts on the nature of light, time, and the complexities involved in theoretical frameworks.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the behavior of light in the double slit experiment might indicate a previously unobserved physical phenomenon related to objects traveling at the speed of light.
  • Another participant argues that considering the "view" of light is not relevant to the double slit experiment, emphasizing that the experiment applies to various particles regardless of their speed.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of using the Lorentz factor at the speed of light, with one participant stating that it leads to an undefined situation.
  • There is a discussion about the differences between quantum mechanics (QM) and quantum field theory (QFT), with one participant noting that QFT presents additional complexities for the double slit experiment.
  • Participants mention that while QFT is challenging, certain processes, like scattering, may be more manageable, though still requiring extensive calculations.
  • One participant humorously reflects on their attraction to the difficulties of QFT, describing it as a "love-hate relationship."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relevance of light's properties to the double slit experiment and the challenges posed by QFT. There is no consensus on the implications of these discussions, and multiple competing perspectives remain.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to foundational assumptions in physics, such as the nature of time in classical mechanics versus relativistic frameworks, and the complexity of calculations in QFT, which may not be fully resolved.

#Thomas#
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I'm know I'm just an enthusiastic newbie here, but something's been nagging me and I would appreciate if I could get some assistance on the matter.

I got a notion about light and the double slit experiment, the notion came to me as I was contemplating light traveling at its native speed. For light, some doesn't exist. It takes (from our point of view) just minutes for a photon to reach us, but for the photon itself, the travel is instantaneous. To the photon, time is meaningless, so is distance. For all intents and purposes it can be everywhere and nowhere at once; but most of all, everyTIME at once.

This is where the strange coincidence lies, as it almost describes the same weirdness that came out of the double slit experiment. So then what if this isn't some quantum phenomena but a more like a previously unobserved physical phenomena of stuff traveling at the speed of light?

Now I know they've been shooting the electron gun too at the slit and it came out with the same solution... this is where my own sense breaks down since electrons are much slower...

So... food for thought?
 
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#Thomas# said:
To the photon, time is meaningless, so is distance. For all intents and purposes it can be everywhere and nowhere at once; but most of all, everyTIME at once.
Physics just does not work if you try to consider the "view" of light. This has nothing to do with the double slit experiment. And as you mentioned, the double slit experiment works with all sorts of particles independent of their speed.
 
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I second what mfb said above, and...
#Thomas# said:
For all intents and purposes it can be everywhere and nowhere at once; but most of all, everyTIME at once.
... I'd also like to suggest you have a look at this page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_cone
 
#Thomas# said:
I got a notion about light and the double slit experiment, the notion came to me as I was contemplating light traveling at its native speed. For light, some doesn't exist. It takes (from our point of view) just minutes for a photon to reach us, but for the photon itself, the travel is instantaneous. To the photon, time is meaningless,

I have heard people say that but it doesn't gell for me.

If you put the speed of light into the Lorentz factor you get 1/0 which is undefined.

That said its nothing to do with the double slit experiment. Its explanation lies in the rules of standard QM which are entirely classical - by which I mean built right into its foundations is the Galilean Transformations with time as an absolute - in fact from that assumption alone (and of course the axioms of QM) one can derive Schroedingers equation etc. Its is indeed a very interesting fact the dynamics is determined by that one little assumption - time is an absolute - strange but true.

If you remove that assumption and use the Lorentz transformations you get QFT which is an entirely different ball game.

Thanks
Bill
 
Last edited:
bhobba said:
If you remove that assumption and use the Lorentz transformations you get QFT which is an entirely different ball game.

So the double slit is hard to do in QFT?
 
bhobba said:
QFT is just hard - double slit or anything else.

Except for scattering maybe? Not saying it's easy but at least, doable.
 
ddd123 said:
Except for scattering maybe? Not saying it's easy but at least, doable.

Scattering?

Thanks
Bill
 
Sorry, LSZ!
 
  • #10
Several pages of calculations even for the easiest leading-order processes? I don't think you can call that "easy".
Doable: sure. You can build a mountain if you have a shovel and enough time.
 
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  • #11
I was just wondering what "hard" means for double slit done in QFT. Often it's a spectrum between "have no idea how" and "impossible".
 
  • #12
ddd123 said:
I was just wondering what "hard" means for double slit done in QFT. Often it's a spectrum between "have no idea how" and "impossible".

Its doable - just hard (meaning long pages of tedious calculations as MFB correctly said)
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1103.0100.pdf

That's my love-hate relationship with QFT - deep and important - but not for the faint hearted or those like me that make far to many errors in long manipulations.

Thanks
Bill
 
  • #13
ddd123 said:
I was just wondering what "hard" means for double slit done in QFT. Often it's a spectrum between "have no idea how" and "impossible".

That is why I am so attracted to it. I must be the scientific equivalent to a suicidal moron! :D
 

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