Double Slit Experiment: The Observer's Eye Affecting Matter

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the Double Slit Experiment, which illustrates that matter behaves as a wave when unobserved and as a particle when observed. The participant references a theory suggesting that the act of observation alters the state of matter, positing that the observer's eye may influence the experiment's outcomes. This theory is supported by the notion that the eye acts as a weak convex mirror, potentially canceling the wave pattern of light. The participant encourages further exploration of this concept through various resources.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles, specifically wave-particle duality.
  • Familiarity with the Double Slit Experiment and its implications in physics.
  • Basic knowledge of optics, particularly the behavior of light and lenses.
  • Awareness of philosophical implications of observation in quantum theory.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mathematical framework of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics.
  • Explore the implications of the observer effect in quantum physics.
  • Study the role of measurement in quantum mechanics and its philosophical consequences.
  • Watch educational videos on the Double Slit Experiment to visualize the concepts discussed.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, philosophy students, and anyone interested in the intersection of observation and quantum mechanics will benefit from this discussion.

MrFix
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A friend of mine pointed out this website to me.

http://www.doubleslitexperiment.com/

The site posts an interesting theory; I'll take a quote from the sites document:
"For some unknown reason that haunts scientists, everything we perceive as having mass is just a wave of information (or possibilities) until we observe it in some way."

So I dug a little deeper, but not too deep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment

The experiment states that the matter acts like a solid when observed and a wave when not observed.

This led me to think that the observer’s eye is affecting the experiment.
My rough scale comparison would be someone’s eye (roughly the size of the Earth) pointed at a photon (the size of a basketball).
Taken into account the refractive backing of the cornea, it would act as a weak convex mirror. This could reflect the light observed into an inverted phase and cancel the wave pattern of the matter. This is just a theory. Let me know what you think about this.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
See here for an easy explanation without the mumbo-jumbo:

http://soi.blogspot.com/2011/02/two-slit-experiment.html
 
This video might help you.

 
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