Understanding the Mystery of Electrons: The Laser Slit Test

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of electrons in the context of the laser slit experiment, exploring the duality of particle and wave characteristics, the implications of observation, and concepts related to quantum entanglement. Participants engage with theoretical interpretations and experimental observations, raising questions about the nature of reality at the quantum level.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that electrons behave as particles when observed and as waves when not observed, questioning how electrons can "know" if they are being observed.
  • Others challenge the notion that electrons can "go back in time" to change their behavior upon observation, suggesting that such a claim is unnecessary.
  • There is a discussion about how scientists determine that electrons exhibit wave-like behavior, with one participant explaining that while individual electrons leave distinct dots on a screen, a pattern emerges over time that resembles an interference pattern typical of waves.
  • One participant introduces the transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics as a way to understand phenomena like the double-slit experiment.
  • Questions arise regarding quantum entanglement and whether it implies the existence of influences that can travel faster than light, with some participants asserting that no information can be transmitted through entangled particles.
  • Another viewpoint suggests that nonlocal influences exist at the level of possibility, which are considered real but not confined to spacetime.
  • There is a mention of the expansion of space potentially exceeding the speed of light, indicating a distinction between the behavior of particles and the nature of space itself.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of observation in quantum mechanics, the interpretation of wave-particle duality, and the nature of quantum entanglement. No consensus is reached on these topics, and multiple competing perspectives remain present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in understanding the implications of observation and the definitions of wave and particle behavior, as well as the complexities surrounding quantum entanglement and nonlocality. These discussions are rooted in theoretical interpretations that may not have universally accepted conclusions.

DeepSpace9
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So the laser test with the slits is as followed as far as I understand.

When observed, electrons act as particles.
When not observed, electrons act as waves.

How can electrons know if your eyes are open or closed? Unless your eyes give off some wort of radiation that it can pick up on.

Also when the electrons are not observed and go through the slits, than are observed on the other end. They instantly change, how can they go back and time and change? Because they instantly change at the point of the gun.
 
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When observed, electrons act as particles.
When not observed, electrons act as waves.
You cannot say this. Well, taken literally, you can, but it is not right.[/size]

Interactions with the electrons (to observe it) can influence the electron and change how it behaves. Expressed like that, it sounds trivial, right?

They instantly change, how can they go back and time and change?
There is no need to go back in time.

Because they instantly change at the point of the gun.
No.
 
mfb said:
You cannot say this. Well, taken literally, you can, but it is not right.[/size]

Interactions with the electrons (to observe it) can influence the electron and change how it behaves. Expressed like that, it sounds trivial, right?


There is no need to go back in time.


No.


How do scientists know they act like waves? Wouldn't they have to observe the electron acting as a wave for this to be true, but that contradicts the face that, when they are observed they turn to particles.

When scientists look on the other side of the slit, the electrons instantly turn to particles. They go back in time, meaning the electrons that have already left the gun instantly turn to particles when observed. If they have already left the gun as a wave, how could it change to particle?
 
DeepSpace9 said:
How do scientists know they act like waves? Wouldn't they have to observe the electron acting as a wave for this to be true, but that contradicts the face that, when they are observed they turn to particles?

The way the experiment works, we can use an electron source so weak that it only emits electrons one at a time. An electron leaves the source and eventually hits the screen, where it leaves a tiny dot. Every time we see another dot appear, we know that another electron has been emitted. There's no wave-like behavior going on here; each electron leaves a single dot where it hits just as if it were a tiny rifle bullet.

But... If we run the experiment long enough to build up a pattern of thousands of those little dots we don't see two spots, one behind each slit, as we would with particles acting like little bullets. We see the interference pattern that would be produced by waves passing through the two slits, with many electron dots at the points where the peaks of the waves line up, and few where a peak and a trough cancel each other.

This is how we see wave-like behavior without trying to observe and measure each electron.
 
Thanks a lot that really clears it up a bit more.
 
DeepSpace, the transactional interpretation gives a nice account of quantum enigmas such as the 2 - slit experiment. I discuss this in detail in my new book,

http://www.cambridge.org/us/knowledge/discountpromotion/?site_locale=en_US&code=L2TIQM

and you can find some introductory and preview material at my website,

http://transactionalinterpretation.org/

Best wishes,
Ruth Kastner
 
What about quantum entanglement? Does this mean, there is something that can travel over the speed of light?
 
I would not call it "something". In particular, you cannot transmit any information via entangled particles. You can show that theories have to be non-local (=> objects can influence other objects (in a specific way) faster than the speed of light) if you want them to satisfy some other conditions at the same time.
 
DeepSpace, in my interpretation the nonlocal influences are at the level of possibility. They are physically real, but not contained in spacetime.
 
  • #10
DeepSpace9 said:
What about quantum entanglement? Does this mean, there is something that can travel over the speed of light?

Space can expand faster than the speed of light. The speed of light is only for particles like photons, etc... Seems that "information" or empty space can do whatever the heck they want to.
 

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