Yet another double slit thread.

[lowing99]

Hi Folks

Regarding the double slit problem, I read recently a theory that suggested that the universe itself split creating effectively two particles, which can interfere.

Personally I think this is imaginative but it simply doesn't sit right, it seems somehow illogical and wasteful for the universe to work this way.

I actually think this a problem of perspective and scale. If someone wants to discuss in more detail, I would appreciate throwing some ideas around for general slating, I don't know at the moment if my idea is all new or just replication of someone elses ideas by accident but it feels right, if you know what i mean.

Best

Colin

 

[flora7369]

I am just a simple housewife an find this subject interesting.time an reality is personal for each.each person it seems changes his reality by what he thinks an sees.the more you try to nail it down the less it bscomes real.you cannot on
this scale see the fluid speed at which we move space an time

 

[lowing99]

Hi Flora

I think it's along the lines of, we see the photon in an average position of many different possible positions, the quantum particles surrounding the photon each have a perspective depending on their position, on the photon.

From the surrounding particles perspective each particle will see the photon in a different position. When we see the photon interfering in the double slit experiment, I think it's because the photon exists in countless realities depending on its neighbours, this means there are multiple simultaneous photons and if their realities overlapped, we would see an average single position of all of it's neighbours but because it is made of multiple realites it can interfere with its other realities and create the pattern.

When we set up equipment to measure the exact location of the photon as it travels through the slit we by definition define it in a single reality of exact position and so the average is not seen, the single position is seen and as it is singular it appears as a single photon on the plate.

Does this make sense, hope so.

Probably fanciful.

Best

Colin

 

[dougal217]

I don't think there's a double-slit "problem" at all, if you just accept the wave-particle duality of light as intrinsic. You don't need "many worlds" to do this

 

[lowing99]

Hi Dougal

That's a sore point as I am still unconvinced that light moves in waves at all, perhaps it moves in straight lines and everything slower moves in waves.

Not a popular belief, I realize :)

Best

Colin

 

[Drakkith]

Hi Dougal

That's a sore point as I am still unconvinced that light moves in waves at all, perhaps it moves in straight lines and everything slower moves in waves.

Not a popular belief, I realize :)

Best

Colin

I'm not sure why you have such a hard time believing that. Evidence has shown the wavelike properties of light for something like 200 years. Light was believed to be wavelike long before matter was.

Also, the wavelike properties of light are almost exactly like the wavelike properties of electrons and other matter. The differences are only in the effects that different masses or momentum cause. Even large molecules themselves have been shown to behave in a wavelike manner and will interfere and such.

 

[Drakkith]

Hi Flora

I think it's along the lines of, we see the photon in an average position of many different possible positions, the quantum particles surrounding the photon each have a perspective depending on their position, on the photon.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. Any observation of a photon involves the photon being in one specific place. I don't see how any particles could have a "perspective" on the photon, as it would require interaction for them to be affected by it, to "see" it.

From the surrounding particles perspective each particle will see the photon in a different position. When we see the photon interfering in the double slit experiment, I think it's because the photon exists in countless realities depending on its neighbours, this means there are multiple simultaneous photons and if their realities overlapped, we would see an average single position of all of it's neighbours but because it is made of multiple realites it can interfere with its other realities and create the pattern.

I don't believe this is the case. The photon has a random probability of being found at a location BEFORE observation or interaction. The interference created by a photon in the double slit is because the wave function that is the photon goes through both slits and interferes with itself. It doesn't "split" into multiple particles.

When we set up equipment to measure the exact location of the photon as it travels through the slit we by definition define it in a single reality of exact position and so the average is not seen, the single position is seen and as it is singular it appears as a single photon on the plate.

Whether the photon experiences interference or not it will always be a single photon upon detection at the plate. The interference only affects the location on the plate that the photon will strike. It is still an average of the possible locations the photon will hit, but instead of getting interference patterns you only get a single pattern as if each photon had only gone through one slit.

I think all that is pretty much correct. Someone correct me if I am wrong.