Double slit interference from antenna

In summary, the conversation discusses the interference pattern that would be produced by passing electromagnetic radiation from an antenna through a double slit apparatus. It is stated that there would only be two deconstructive interferences in the pattern, with one trough followed by one crest. There is a discussion about Feynman's path integral formulation and how it applies to waves with multiple crests and troughs. It is also mentioned that one needs to have a grasp of classical electromagnetism before studying the quantum version.
  • #1
Danyon
83
1
Consider the situation where the electrons in an antenna accelerate from the top of the antenna to the bottom of the antenna once, what would the interference pattern look like if the electromagnetic radiation from the antenna were passed through a double slit apparatus of an appropriate size? I imagine there would only be two deconstructive interferences in the interference pattern, is this wrong? The feynman path integral formulation seems to imply there would be more.
 
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  • #2
I believe it would look identical to the double slit pattern from any other source, be it visible light, electrons, or water waves.
 
  • #3
Drakkith said:
I believe it would look identical to the double slit pattern from any other source, be it visible light, electrons, or water waves.
The number of regions that interfere deconstructively depends on how many crests and troughs there are, for my described scenario there should be one trough followed by one crest, which should result in only two regions which interfere deconstructively. Feynman's path integrals only seem to work with waves that have multiple crests and troughs
 
  • #4
A single pulse of electromagnetic radiation is a superposition of plane waves of various frequencies, so you have multiple crests and troughs here; you do the sum across all frequencies on all paths to get the final amplitude.

You need to be able to work this problem using classical E&M before you can take on the quantum version.
 
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  • #5
Nugatory said:
A single pulse of electromagnetic radiation is a superposition of plane waves of various frequencies, so you have multiple crests and troughs here; you do the sum across all frequencies on all paths to get the final amplitude.

You need to be able to work this problem using classical E&M before you can take on the quantum version.
I see, thankyou.
 

What is double slit interference from antenna?

Double slit interference from antenna is a phenomenon in which radio waves from an antenna interfere with each other after passing through two parallel slits. This results in a pattern of alternating maxima and minima on a screen placed behind the slits.

How does double slit interference occur from an antenna?

Double slit interference occurs when radio waves from an antenna pass through two parallel slits, creating two coherent sources of waves. These waves then interfere with each other, resulting in a pattern of constructive and destructive interference.

What factors affect double slit interference from an antenna?

The factors that affect double slit interference from an antenna include the wavelength of the radio waves, the distance between the slits, and the distance between the slits and the screen.

Why is double slit interference from an antenna important?

Double slit interference from an antenna is important because it helps us understand the behavior of electromagnetic waves, and can be used to study the properties of the antenna itself. It also has practical applications in areas such as wireless communication and radar technology.

Can double slit interference from an antenna be observed with visible light?

Yes, double slit interference can occur with visible light as well as other forms of electromagnetic radiation. However, the distance between the slits must be very small in order to observe the interference pattern, making it more difficult to observe with visible light compared to longer wavelengths such as radio waves.

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