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Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

A non-quantum mechanical explanation of the single photon double slit experiment

Karl Otto Greulich

Published Aug 20, 2009• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Double slit experiments with true single photons are presently becoming reality. Thus one may speculate that the wave particle duality of light and photons can now be proven unequivocally. This was not the case with earlier experiments using attenuated multi-atom light sources. Here it is suggested that the few available experiments which indeed are using single photons can be explained in a comprehensible manner without invoking quantum mechanics and wave particle dualism. However, one has to give up the notion of an indivisible photon.

DOI
10.1117/12.825886

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Double slit experiments with true single photons are presently becoming reality. Thus one may speculate that the wave particle duality of light and photons can now be proven unequivocally. This was not the case with earlier experiments using attenuated multi-atom light sources. Here it is suggested that the few available experiments which indeed are using single photons can be explained in a comprehensible manner without invoking quantum mechanics and wave particle dualism. However, one has to give up the notion of an indivisible photon.
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 have been descripted by wave theories, i.e., before and after passing through a double slit, the light is waves. To test the wave description, we extend the double slit experiments to the comprehensive double slit experiments by utilizing Shield, Metal tube, Blocker, Combination of Shield and Blocker with two triangle cuts, Photon-Chamber, and Lens. We propose both “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, not waves, before and after passing through a double slit; (2) it is the photons that form both the non-interference patterns and 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; (4) the wave theories of the light; (5) the quantum theory of matter. A complete explanation is demanded and should describe all the comprehensive double slit experiments consistently.
Crucial experiments of physics, such as the quantum mechanical version of the double slit experiment, have so far not been performed with true single (antibunching) photons. Instead, attenuated classical light sources such as bulbs or lasers have been suggested to provide the photons in these experiments. Since attenuators do not change photon statistics, i.e. do not convert classical into non - classical light, reliable single photon beams cannot be generated on this way. Antibunching sources, for example single molecules, are required. Due to the lack of such sources in the past, some extrapolations from the many - photon case to the one photon case have remained speculative, for example the long wavetrain model for a single photon. Alternative hypotheses, elaborated by considering details of the emission of single photons by single molecules are equally probable. Arguments are presented which disfavour the wavetrain model and favour the short pulse as a model for a photon.
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.
Single molecule techniques improve our understanding of the photon and light. If the single photon double slit experiment is performed at the "single photon limit" of a multi-atom light source, faint light pulses with more than one photon hamper the interpretation. Single molecules, quantum dots or defect centres in crystals should be used as light source. "Single photon detectors" do not meet their promise-only "photon number resolving single photon detectors" do so. Particularly, the accumulation time argument, the only safe basis for the postulate of a strictly particle like photon, has so far not yet been verified.