Double Slit Experiment: New Idea About How it Works?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a new idea regarding the double slit experiment, proposing that a photon, when passing through one slit, might "slung" off a small amount of energy that travels in a wave pattern. This energy could potentially affect the photon's path upon collision, but is absorbed during observation, allowing the photon to behave like a particle. The theory suggests that larger objects are unaffected by this tiny energy, explaining why they do not exhibit wave diffraction. Comparisons are made to the De Broglie–Bohm theory, which offers a different perspective on quantum mechanics. The conversation raises questions about the mechanism of energy transfer and the localization of photons in space.
DwithQs
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
I was reading about the double slit experiment, and had an idea. Can anyone tell me if there is a test which negates this idea - or if someone has proposed/proven it.

Say the photon goes through one slit, but a super small amount of energy (currently not possible to recognize as being detected) takes all other paths (in a wave pattern of the direction the photon is going) - somewhat "slung" off of the photon. That energy can collide with the photon on the other side of the slit, altering its path just like a wave does.

The act of observing absorbs that slung off energy (however we didn't detect that we observed it because it was so small). So, observing causes that tiny wave pattern energy to be absorbed, but observing doesn't absorb the photon - and the photon goes through the slit in a straight line and hits the wall like a particle. When we don't observe, the remaining "slung" off energy does go through the slit in a wave pattern and affects the course of the photon.

Larger objects would be to big to be affected by this tiny energy that is "slung" off and doesn't experience the affect and never seems to experience this wave diffraction.

If that's the case - it can remove a lot of the mystery of "when observed the photon chooses a slit" kind of thinking. Instead, when observed the slung off wave of tiny energy particles are absorbed and don't affect the photon.


Thanks,
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Thanks MFB - I've been reading about that and Bohmian Mechanics. It is a very good explanation that -in my mind- fits better than some of the *mysterious* parts of Quantum Mechanics.

Hopefully, some of these theories will be proven or disproven through future testing.
 
By what mechanism is this energy that is "slung" off the photon being transferred? Other photons? Note that energy is not a substance and requires something to transfer it from one place to another.
 
Drakkith said:
By what mechanism is this energy that is "slung" off the photon being transferred? Other photons? Note that energy is not a substance and requires something to transfer it from one place to another.

That question only needs to arise if the photon is assumed to be localised in space. If one accepts that 'a photon' exists in all space, then it doesn't need an extra cloud of anything around it.
 
So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks

Similar threads

Back
Top