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Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics

Varying shapes of experimental double-slit interference patterns for light, and a model of particle-modified interference patterns

Willard Fadner, Jerome A. Orosz, Chad Smith, Niranjan Sharma

Published Nov 27, 2001• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Interference patterns from laser-illuminated double slits were scanned and accumulated for the cases of relatively dim, medium and relatively bright illumination. Detailed analyses were made of the pattern shapes for a large number of data runs. Patterns accumulated from dim light fit the shape of the wave theory patterns well, supporting the quantum concept of gradual accumulation of single photon events. However, the envelope shapes for brighter light did not adequately match those of the wave theory (or those from dim light), in that the bright light patterns had too great an intensity in the bright areas, relative to the dimmer areas in those patterns. These pattern shapes resembled a wave theory pattern squared, or taken to a higher power. The shapes appear to have been the results of the particular method of pulse detection and pulse level discrimination used, which favoured the larger pulse sizes. A model based upon multiple photon detection within each output pulse was developed, using particle statistics combined with wave theory probabilities. The predicted interference patterns from this model fit the experimental results well, providing support for the model. This experiment displays an interesting combination of wave and particle effects, supporting duality for light, in that the transmission of light corresponds to the predictions of probability waves, closely akin to classical optical wave theory, and the detection of light involves particle statistics, supporting the quantum nature of photon detection.

DOI
10.1088/1464-4266/3/6/309

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Interference patterns from laser-illuminated double slits were scanned and accumulated for the cases of relatively dim, medium and relatively bright illumination. Detailed analyses were made of the pattern shapes for a large number of data runs. Patterns accumulated from dim light fit the shape of the wave theory patterns well, supporting the quantum concept of gradual accumulation of single photon events. However, the envelope shapes for brighter light did not adequately match those of the wave theory (or those from dim light), in that the bright light patterns had too great an intensity in the bright areas, relative to the dimmer areas in those patterns. These pattern shapes resembled a wave theory pattern squared, or taken to a higher power. The shapes appear to have been the results of the particular method of pulse detection and pulse level discrimination used, which favoured the larger pulse sizes. A model based upon multiple photon detection within each output pulse was developed, using particle statistics combined with wave theory probabilities. The predicted interference patterns from this model fit the experimental results well, providing support for the model. This experiment displays an interesting combination of wave and particle effects, supporting duality for light, in that the transmission of light corresponds to the predictions of probability waves, closely akin to classical optical wave theory, and the detection of light involves particle statistics, supporting the quantum nature of photon detection.
Abstract Young’s double slit experiment revived the wave theory of the light. The standard interpretation is that the light behaves as waves before and after passing through the diaphragm of the double slit. Feynman called the double slit experiment the only mystery in quantum mechanics. Recently, the photon chamber has been proposed and utilized to study the behavior of photons near the detecting screen. The experiments show that the light, near the screen, behaves as photons propagating along the straight-line trajectories, and the trajectories distribute as waves. In this article, we utilize two new methods to study experimentally the patterns near the diaphragm of the double slit/cross double slit. The experiments show that, the first time, within certain macroscopic distance from the diaphragm, (1) the pattern is non-interference and thus, the light behaves as photons and produces the “particle pattern” near the double slit; and (2) both the shape and nature of the patterns are distance-dependent; when the distance increases, the non-interference pattern gradually evolves to the interference pattern. The experiments: (1) provide novel phenomena/data for further theoretical development of the optics and for understanding the nature of the light; and (2) show the Feynman’s mystery with different aspect.
Young’s double slit experiments have been descripted by wave theories, i.e., before and after passing a double slit, the light is waves. Now, we extend the double slit experiments to the comprehensive double slit experiments by utilizing Shield (showing the light is not wave), Metal tube (showing the light is not EM wves), Blocker (showing the light is particles), combination of Shield and Blocker (showing the light is particles), Photon-Chamber (showing the light is particles which produce both non-interference patterns and interference patterns), and Lens (showing the light is particles which produce non-wave and wave patterns). We propose two Postulates: “Postulate on light: light is photons before and after passing through double slit” and “Postulate on lens: light behaves same before and after passing through lens”. Then, we show the novel phenomena of the comprehensive double slit experiments: (1) the light is photons before and after passing through a double slit; (2) photons form both the non-interference patterns and the interference patterns; (3) the non-interference patterns gradually evolve to the interference patterns in the same experiment. We refer to the novel phenomena as “PhotoWave phenomena” that are universal. The comprehensive double slit experiments provide the novel phenomena for developing theoretical model further to study: (1) the nature of the light; (2) the Feynman’s mystery of the double slit; (3) the wave-particle duality; and (4) the wave theories of the light; (5) applications. A complete description should explain all the comprehensive double slit experiments consistently.
Young’s double slit experiments have been descripted by wave theories, i.e., before and after passing a double slit, the light is waves. Now, we extend the double slit experiments to the comprehensive double slit experiments by utilizing Shield (showing the light is not wave), Metal tube (showing the light is not EM waves), Blocker (showing the light is particles), combination of Shield and Blocker (showing the light is particles), Photon-Chamber (showing the light is particles which produce both non-interference patterns and interference patterns), and Lens (showing the light is particles which produce non-wave and wave patterns). We propose two Postulates: “Postulate on light: light is photons before and after passing through double slit” and “Postulate on lens: light behaves same before and after passing through lens”. Then, we show the novel phenomena of the comprehensive double slit experiments: (1) the light is photons before and after passing through a double slit; (2) photons form both the non-interference patterns and the interference patterns; (3) the non-interference patterns gradually evolve to the interference patterns in the same experiment. We refer to the novel phenomena as “PhotoWave phenomena” that are universal. The comprehensive double slit experiments provide the novel phenomena for developing theoretical model further to study: (1) the nature of the light; (2) the Feynman’s mystery of the double slit; (3) the wave-particle duality; and (4) the wave theories of the light; (5) applications. A complete description should explain all the comprehensive double slit experiments consistently.
Young’s double slit experiments have been descripted by wave theories, i.e., before and after passing a double slit, the light is waves. Now, we extend the double slit experiments to the comprehensive double slit experiments by utilizing Shield (showing the light is not wave), Metal tube (showing the light is not EM wves), Blocker (showing the light is particles), combination of Shield and Blocker (showing the light is particles), Photon-Chamber (showing the light is particles which produce both non-interference patterns and interference patterns), and Lens (showing the light is particles which produce non-wave and wave patterns). We propose two Postulates: “Postulate on light: light is photons before and after passing through double slit” and “Postulate on lens: light behaves same before and after passing through lens”. Then, we show the novel phenomena of the comprehensive double slit experiments: (1) the light is photons before and after passing through a double slit; (2) photons form both the non-interference patterns and the interference patterns; (3) the non-interference patterns gradually evolve to the interference patterns in the same experiment. We refer to the novel phenomena as “PhotoWave phenomena” that are universal. The comprehensive double slit experiments provide the novel phenomena for developing theoretical model further to study: (1) the nature of the light; (2) the Feynman’s mystery of the double slit; (3) the wave-particle duality; and (4) the wave theories of the light; (5) applications. A complete description should explain all the comprehensive double slit experiments consistently.
Young’s double slit experiments revived the wave theory of light. The standard interpretation is that the light behaves as waves before and after passing through the double slit, and the superposition of waves produces the interference pattern. Feynman called the double slit experiment the only mystery in quantum mechanics. In this article, we experimentally show the novel universal phenomena: (1) within macro-distance from the diaphragm, the light rays behave as photons and produce non-interference patterns; while near the screen, the photons produce interference patterns; (2) The non-interference patterns evolve to the interference patterns gradually in the same classical wave experiment; (3) the light is photons before and after passing through the double slit; (4) The convex lens stops the further evolution. The experiments: (1) challenge the wave theories of the light; (2) violate both Bohr’s complementarity principle and wave particle duality; (3) provide profound phenomena for developing optics and for studying the nature of light; (4) suggest that a complete theory should be able to consistently interpret all phenomena, including the non-interference pattern, the interference pattern, and the evolution from the non-interference to the interference pattern in the wave experiment; (5) show a new mystery that photons, as particles, distribute as waves.
Young’s double slit experiments revived the wave theory of light. The standard interpretation is that the light behaves as waves before and after passing through the double slit, and the superposition of waves produces the interference pattern. Feynman called the double slit experiment the only mystery in quantum mechanics. In this article, we experimentally show the novel universal phenomena: (1) the light is particles, but waves: within macro-distance from a diaphragm, the light rays produce non-interference patterns; while near the screen, the photons produce orthogonal interference patterns; (2) the non-interference patterns evolve to the orthogonal interference patterns gradually in the same experiment; (3) the evolution of the patterns cannot be interpreted by either classic optics or the quantum optics; (4) the non-interference patterns and the orthogonal interference patterns can show on the screen simultaneously; (5) The convex lens stops the further evolution. The experiments: (1) challenge the classical optics and quantum optics; (2) violate both Bohr’s complementarity principle and wave particle duality; (3) provide profound phenomena for developing optics and for studying the nature of light; (4) suggest that a complete theory should be able to consistently interpret all phenomena, including the non-interference pattern, the interference pattern, and the evolution from the non-interference to the interference pattern in the same wave experiment.