Double Slit Experiment: Home Reproduction Guide

[Cpac73322]

So I am a sophmoore in high school and i am really interested in quantum physics and i am fascinated by the double slit experiment. So i wondered, is there a way that i could reproduce the same results using common materials such as a laser pointer and aluminum foil. Any point at all would be greatly appreciated

 

[VortexLattice]

Not really, I think...the slits are normally done by fancy equipment so they're incredibly small. However, there's a neat trick you can do that gives the same results as the single slit experiment: shine a laser pointer on a single hair of yours (held taut so it doesn't curve or whatever). I think for some reason, the inverse of something that diffracts light will diffract the same way.

 

[bcrowell]

It works if you take a piece of transparent glass or plastic, cover an area of it with a sharpie, and then scratch out two parallel lines with a pin, very close together.

For safety, watch for specular reflections and make sure they don't go in your eye. Work with all the apparatus below eye level.

I think for some reason, the inverse of something that diffracts light will diffract the same way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babinet's_principle

 

[jtbell]

If you don't insist on exactly two "slits", you can use a CD as a reflective diffraction grating.

 

[Cpac73322]

Just tries the single hair thing and it actually works!