To repeat Young's double slit experiment with a diode laser, ensuring the light is coherent at the slits is crucial. Enclosing the setup to prevent external light interference and attenuating the laser to allow only one photon at a time can effectively demonstrate quantum behavior. Scanning a photomultiplier across the interference pattern will reveal results consistent with wave behavior. The distance between the slits should be optimized based on the wavelength of the radiation, with suggestions indicating that distances below 10 micrometers may be appropriate. This setup serves as a clear illustration of the principles of quantum mechanics.
#1
VantagePoint72
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What would be the best set up to repeat Young's double slit experiment with a diode laser?
As long as the light is coherent when it hits the slits, any set up should be fine.
A good experiment to try if you have a photomultiplier is to enclose the experiment so no light can get in. Attenuate the laser until only one photon is present in the box at anyone time (on average). Scan the photomultiplier across the interferance pattern and show that it matches the pattern that would be expected for a macroscopic wave traveling through the slits.
It is a simple illustration of the quantum behaviour of light.
Claude.
#3
VantagePoint72
820
34
Sounds like a good experiment...either way, is there an optimum distance to have between the two slits?
Imagine a charged sphere at the origin connected through an open switch to a vertical grounded wire.
We wish to find an expression for the horizontal component of the electric field at a distance ##\mathbf{r}## from the sphere as it discharges.
By using the Lorenz gauge condition:
$$\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A} + \frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t}=0\tag{1}$$
we find the following retarded solutions to the Maxwell equations
If we assume that...
Maxwell’s equations imply the following wave equation for the electric field
$$\nabla^2\mathbf{E}-\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial^2\mathbf{E}}{\partial t^2}
= \frac{1}{\varepsilon_0}\nabla\rho+\mu_0\frac{\partial\mathbf J}{\partial t}.\tag{1}$$
I wonder if eqn.##(1)## can be split into the following transverse part
$$\nabla^2\mathbf{E}_T-\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial^2\mathbf{E}_T}{\partial t^2}
= \mu_0\frac{\partial\mathbf{J}_T}{\partial t}\tag{2}$$
and longitudinal part...
Is it true that in any mechanical set-up, it is possible to predict the nature of Normal Reaction ( magnitude, direction, etc. ) without solving through the dynamical equations of motion and constraints for the set-up as Normal Reaction is completely unknown? I mean is it true that we can explain NR intuitively beforehand?