Double slit experiment at home

[shantanu_l]

I just saw a video explanation about the double slit experiment , and how an electron behaves as wave / particle according to if it is observed or not.

I am more intrigued to see in action how an electron will behave as a particle when consciously observed and as a wave function when it is not observed. I followed an experiment video from youtube about how to make a double split experiment at home , with a red laser pointer. I tried it and worked fine , i saw red interference bands on my wall when the laser passed through the double slit. Which means light is a wave.

But how can one get to see a different pattern on the wall as if the light being a particle and not a wave if it is being watched/ observed. I would like to see the light behaving not as a wave when i am observing it.

Please enlightened me about this. Thanks :)

 

[Mark M]

Welcome to PF!

Unfortunately, you can't. Firstly, the experiment you are describing is done with one photon at a time, which is only possible with special equipment. Also, note that when people say 'observe', they mean measure. You would need some kind of detector beside the slits to do that, 'looking at it' doesn't cut it.

So, no, it is not possible to reproduce at home.

 

[shantanu_l]

Welcome to PF!

Unfortunately, you can't. Firstly, the experiment you are describing is done with one photon at a time, which is only possible with special equipment. Also, note that when people say 'observe', they mean measure. You would need some kind of detector beside the slits to do that, 'looking at it' doesn't cut it.

So, no, it is not possible to reproduce at home.

Thanx Mark M for your reply:). I have a couple of questions.

1] Is the effect same for electron / photon/ neutrons etc when they are shot one by one and then are measured. Do all of these behave as a particle when measured??

2]Is it same for electron / photon of any element? or light or any type of "matter"?

3]I would like to see this in action( the particle behavior ) ,do scientist record videos of this phenomena or have written reports that a layperson could get to read. Do you know any links to such resources??

Thanks,

Shantanu