Physicist's Double Slit Experiment: How is it Possible?

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SUMMARY

The double slit experiment demonstrates the wave-particle duality of photons and electrons, allowing for the observation of individual particles. Physicists achieve this by adjusting the beam intensity and utilizing powerful filters to ensure that only one photon or electron is released at a time. This method enables accurate detection of single particles on a screen, confirming their behavior as both waves and particles. The experiment's design is crucial for understanding quantum mechanics and the fundamental principles governing particle behavior.

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  • Research the principles of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics
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Forestman
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I have read that physicist have been able to do the double slit experiment in which they were able to release one photon or one electron at a time. How is this possible? How would a person know that only one photon or one electron had been released? And how is this done?
 
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(where did you read this? Why do always people forget to tell this important information)

One simple adjust the beam so that without the slits a desirable hit frequency is obtained on a big screen. Then one installs the slits, and hope that the same frequency is still there
 
When I did this in a course a couple years back with a double slit and a lightbulb, we just used some very ... "powerful" filters to decrease the intensity a tremendous amount. Then we proceeded to use more then 1 :).
 

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