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NeuroQuantology

The Central Mystery of Quantum Mechanics

Partha Ghose

Published Nov 24, 2009• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A critical re-examination of the double-slit experiment and its variants is presented to clarify the nature of what Feynman called the “central mystery” and the “only mystery”of quantum mechanics, leading to an interpretation of complementarity in which and description rather than a wave or particle' description is valid for the same experimental set up, with the wave culminating in the particle sequentially in time. This interpretation is different from Bohr's but is consistent with the von Neumann formulation as well as some more recent interpretations of quantum mechanics.

DOI
10.14704/nq.2009.7.4.257

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A critical re-examination of the double-slit experiment and its variants is presented to clarify the nature of what Feynman called the “central mystery” and the “only mystery”of quantum mechanics, leading to an interpretation of complementarity in which and description rather than a wave or particle' description is valid for the same experimental set up, with the wave culminating in the particle sequentially in time. This interpretation is different from Bohr's but is consistent with the von Neumann formulation as well as some more recent interpretations of quantum mechanics.
A critical re-examination of the double-slit experiment and its variants is presented to clarify the nature of what Feynmann called the ``central mystery'' and the ``only mystery'' of quantum mechanics, leading to an interpretation of complementarity in which a `wave {\em and} particle' description rather than a `wave {\em or} particle' description is valid for the {\em same} experimental set up, with the wave culminating in the particle sequentially in time. This interpretation is different from Bohr's but is consistent with the von Neumann formulation as well as some more recent interpretations of quantum mechanics.
Young's double slit experiments representing the mystery of quantum mechanics have been descripted by wave theories. To study the mystery, the double slit experiments were extended to the cross-double slit experiments. A description should explain all the double slit and cross-double slit experiments consistently. To test the wave description, the two postulates are proposed, which state that before passing through the double slit and before landing on the detector, photons behave as particles, but not as waves. To test the two postulates, the comprehensive double slit/cross-double slit experiments are proposed and performed. By placing shields and/or blockers near the detector/screen, the comprehensive double slit/cross-double slit experiments show that the fringes are created independently and partially, which discloses the particle nature of photons in the double slit/crossdouble slit experiments and violates the wave descriptions. The comprehensive double slit/cross-double slit experiments provide the comprehensive phenomena for developing theoretical model to study the mystery of double slit, complementarity principle, wave-particle duality, and wave theory of light.
Abstract Young’s double slit experiments, which represent the mystery of quantum mechanics, have been interpreted by quantum probability waves and de Broglie-Bohm’s trajectory/pilot waves. To study in detail, the double slit experiments are extended to the cross double slit experiments. We argue that an interpretation must be able to explain all of the double slit and cross double slit experiments consistently. To test the interpretations, the comprehensive double slit experiments have been performed, which challenge both the wave interpretation and the trajectory interpretation. The cross double slit experiments and comprehensive double slit experiments provide a new tool for studying the mystery of double slit, wave-particle duality, complementarity principle, wave theory and trajectory theory. In this article, we review the cross double slit experiments and comprehensive double slit experiments, and report new experiments.
xi 4.5.24.5.3The double-slit experiment The microscope 4.6 Meaning of the 'complementarity' concept 4.6.1 4.6.24.6.34.6.44.6.5 4.6.6 4.6.7 Two meanings of 'to determine' Heisenberg's disturbance theory of measurement Complementarity according to Bohr Particle-wave duality Parallel and circular complementarity Complementarity and the projection postulate Complementarity and consciousness 4.7 Critique of the complementarity principle Einstein Margenau Ballentine Recent developments Complementarity and empiricist interpretation The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen problem 6 Individual-particle and ensemble interpretations of quantum mechanics 275 6.
Abstract One of the greatest mysteries that has puzzled and seemingly hoodwinked our very understanding of nature is the single electron double slit experiment – one that Feynman termed the central mystery of quantum mechanics. At the heart of this mystery is how can an electron that is a physical particle exhibit a wave-like property? We’ve proposed a non-counterintuitive way to explain this phenomenon called the randomly-jumping electron hypothesis, in which the electron randomly “jumps” in discrete succession to specific points only and not others which is what causes the electron to indeed be a classical particle only but is able to produce a wave-like interference pattern. To provide supporting evidence for our hypothesis, we’ve developed a computer program to simulate the single electron double slit experiment by treating the electron as a classical particle while still exhibiting wave-like fringes in agreement with real-world observed data of the single electron double slit experiment performed. Our interpretation does not set out to “solve” the mystery of why an electron can produce a wave-like interference pattern once and for all, however our hypothesis is a monism ontological interpretation that does address some of the crucial debates that have remained unsolved for 100 years since the formulation of quantum mechanics.
I present here a thought experiment which violates the most widely accepted interpretation of quantum mechanics “The Copenhagen Interpretation” and Bohr’s complementarity which says that there is no meaning of the state of a particle until it is observed and the act of observation might change it. The experiment consists of a double slit apparatus which is modified by putting a second double slit apparatus between the source and the original apparatus with certain conditions imposed on both the apparatuses using the facts of interference and diffraction. A striking paradox emerges if we consider the arguments of Bohr’s complementarity, i.e. the photon travels through both the paths simultaneously in a double slit apparatus whenever there is interference. It turns out that this paradox can be resolved only if the photon travels through one path even if interference fringes are visible.