B What is causing destructive interference in double slit experiment?

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The discussion revolves around the double slit experiment and the concept of destructive interference in quantum mechanics. Participants question how interference occurs when single electrons are fired one at a time, debating whether electrons can be viewed as splitting into two waves or if they should be described by a single wave function. The consensus indicates that the interference pattern arises from the probability amplitudes associated with the electron's wave function, which can lead to points of zero probability on the detection screen. The conversation highlights the challenge of intuitively understanding quantum mechanics, emphasizing that while the mathematics accurately predicts outcomes, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Ultimately, the discussion reflects the complexities and paradoxes inherent in quantum theory.
  • #31
Lordy. Thread closed temporarily for Moderation...
 
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  • #32
sillyputty said:
Which brings me to ask: How could someone prove their theory true as to what is going on?
You don’t. Physics is an empirical science, and empirical sciences don’t prove that theories are true - it can’t be done. All that we can do is show that our theory is consistent with all experimental evidence so far, and it is helpful if our theory also makes predictions that are different from those of other proposed theories - then we can test the predictions to reject one or the other.

So any proposed theory of what is going in on (the technical term for such theories is, as @phyzguy says above, “hidden variable theories”) must be consistent with all available observational and experimental evidence so far. In particular, it must be consistent with the observed violations of Bell’s inequalities - and I strongly encourage you to read up on that, Googling for “Bell’s Theorem” would be a good start.
 
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  • #33
Thread will remain closed. Thanks all.
 
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