Double Double Slit Experiment -- Question about Variations

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around variations of the double slit experiment, specifically the implications of placing two double slits at a distance from each other and the resulting interference patterns. Participants explore the potential outcomes of such configurations, including the effects on light intensity and the relationship to concepts like polarization filters.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the results of placing two double slits at a distance apart and whether the second slits positioned at destructive interference points would result in no detected light.
  • Another participant acknowledges that various experiments have been conducted with double slits but suggests that the specific configuration mentioned may not yield significant novelty, as dark regions remain dark.
  • A participant expresses skepticism about their intuition regarding light intensity detection, drawing a parallel to polarization filters, and requests experimental data to support or refute their thoughts.
  • Another response challenges the comparison to polarization filters, asserting that the absence of photons leads to darkness regardless of slit configuration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit differing views on the implications of the experimental setup, with some questioning the outcomes based on intuition and others emphasizing the straightforward nature of the calculations involved. No consensus is reached regarding the effects of the proposed variations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that intuition may not align with experimental results, and there is a lack of specific experimental data referenced in the discussion. The relationship between the proposed double slit configuration and established theories remains unresolved.

Myslius
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TL;DR
Double Double Slit Experiment
emitter -> double slit -> double slit -> detector.

Was an experiment ever made where two double slits are placed at some distance between each other? What kind of interference pattern would you get? What would happen if second slits were placed at the position where there is destructive interference pattern, would you see no light at all?
 
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Hi,

You should know by now that the standard PF answer is: what do you think?

But that would be corny. So: yes, of course folks have experimented themselves silly with all kinds of variations. You seem to think of narrow double slits at small distance apart wrt the features of the diffraction pattern. There isn't much fun with that: dark remains dark and so on. Much more excitement when playing on a bigger scale: removing entire peaks from the diffraction pattern for example. Google 'spatial filtering' to find out more.

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What i think, the intuition says that detector should not detect any (very little) intensity. Yet, intuition might be wrong here. In the case of double polarisation filters intensity doesn't decrease if filters are aligned. Would love to see data from experimental setup. Was looking around, didn't find any papers, maybe i missed something.
 
Myslius said:
What i think, the intuition says that detector should not detect any (very little) intensity. Yet, intuition might be wrong here. In the case of double polarisation filters intensity doesn't decrease if filters are aligned. Would love to see data from experimental setup. Was looking around, didn't find any papers, maybe i missed something.
No papers, it's all straightforward calculation. Don't see the similarity with polarization filters.

Intuition doesn't come in: no photons ##\rightarrow## dark ! ... slits or no slits.

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