Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

European Journal of Physics

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle demonstrated with an electron diffraction experiment

Gioṙgio Matteucci, L. Ferrari, A. Migliori

Published Aug 31, 2010• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

An experiment analogous to the classical diffraction of light from a circular aperture has been realized with electrons. The results are used to introduce undergraduate students to the wave behaviour of electrons. The diffraction fringes produced by the circular aperture are compared to those predicted by quantum mechanics and are exploited to present and discuss the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

DOI
10.1088/0143-0807/31/5/027

Related papers

Discovering the puzzling behaviour of electrons with the Grimaldi–Young experiment

Gioṙgio Matteucci, Román Castañeda, Samuel Serna +2 more

An experiment analogous to that devised by Grimaldi and subsequently repeated by Young to study the nature of light has been realized with electrons. Following the Grimaldi and Young line of thought, an original approach is presented to introduce undergraduate physics students to the wave behaviour of electrons. An electron microscope equipped with a low coherent source of electrons and a thin platinum wire, acting as an opaque obstacle, is used to reproduce the experimental conditions adopted by Grimaldi and Young with light. Electron interference fringes produced in the geometrical shadow of the obstacle are interpreted by assuming that electrons behave like a sound or a light wave. This hypothesis is confirmed by the modelling of the experimental electron interference patterns.

European Journal of Physics•Jan 19, 2010•7 citations

A simple experimental checking of Heisenberg's uncertainty relations

Selim Pašić, Ozren Gamulin, Zoran Tocilj

We show that the quantum mechanical interpretation of the diffraction of light on a slit, when a wave function is assigned to a photon, can be used for a direct experimental study of Heisenberg’s position-momentum and equivalent positionwave vector uncertainty relation for the photon. Results of an experimental test of the position-wave vector uncertainty relation, where the wavelength is used as the input parameter, are given and they very well confirm our approach. The same experimental results can also be used for a test of the position-momentum uncertainty relation when the momentum p0 of a photon is known as the input parameter. We show that a measurement of p0, independent of the knowledge of the value of the Planck’s constant, is possible. Using that value of p0, a test of the position-momentum uncertainty relation could be regarded as a method for a direct measurement of the Planck’s constant. This is discussed, since the diffraction pattern is also well described by classical electrodynamics in the considered experimental conditions. This approach for testing the Heisenberg’s uncertainty relations is very simple and consequently suitable as a quantitative exercise in undergraduate experimental courses, as well as a visual and attractive demonstration of the Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle in courses of quantum mechanics.

Fizika A•Nov 10, 2006•2 citations

Experimental verification of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle via Single-Slit Diffraction

Evan Zhang

This experiment investigates the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle (HUP) through an optical analogue using Single-slit diffraction of a monochromatic He–Ne laser. The spatial confinement of light through slits of varying width is compared with the resulting diffraction patterns, providing a means to examine the relationship between position uncertainty ∆x and transverse momentum uncertainty ∆px. Diffraction patterns were recorded using a photodiode detector, and the angular positions of the first minima were determined and used to estimate the spread in momentum via the de-Broglie relation. The results demonstrates and are consistent with the expected inverse relationship. The measured diffraction patterns were also found to adhere to the Fraunhofer diffraction relation, supporting the validity of the experimental model and the goodness of fit of the data.The calculated uncertainty products were further found to be consistent with the expected magnitude of Planck's constant. and therefore the the findings support the interpretation of diffraction as a classifcal manifestation of the Foruier relation between position and momentum space. Thus providing a physically intuituve demonstration of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.

•Mar 24, 2026•0 citations

On the presentation of wave phenomena of electrons with the Young–Feynman experiment

Gioṙgio Matteucci

The Young-Feynman two-hole interferometer is widely used to present the electron wave-particle duality and in particular the buildup of interference fringes with single electrons. The teaching approach consists of two steps: i) electrons come through only one hole but diffraction effects are disregarded; ii) electrons come through both holes and interference fringes are described. Therefore, a student might believe that wave phenomena are not revealable in case i) but they arise only by the combined effect of electrons from the two holes. To avoid misunderstanding regarding the distribution of electrons passing through one hole, Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction patterns are discussed. In particular, an original experiment, realized with a standard electron microscope and a sample with round holes is presented to introduce the wave nature of electrons. The experimental results clearly show that a careful discussion of electron diffraction phenomena from one hole provides students with the evidence that the interference experiment from both holes is not strictly required to show the superposition of electron waves.

European Journal of Physics•Mar 23, 2011•6 citations

A thought to illustrate the uncertainty principle on the base of Otto-Wiener's experiment

Das, Tapas

In this short paper a new thought experiment has been introduced to illustrate the famous Heisenberg's uncertainty principle based on Otto-Wiener's experiment (1890) associated with standing light waves. This illustration is quite easy as well as far more realizing than all other thought experiments generally found in textbooks. In this work seeding of quantum nature of light has been done with the Otto-Wiener's experiment. May be this new thought experiment will help the students to understand the Heisenberg's principle in a better way and also enhance their interest of learning quantum mechanics from the beginning of their course.

arXiv:1410.4516•Oct 6, 2014•0 citations

Uncertainties relation and micro particles diffraction

A.P. Pylaev

It was shown that for explanation of experimental results on diffraction of micro particles it does no need to use the de Broglie wave’s concept. Such the results can be described with the aid of the Heisenberg uncertainties relation. As for examples the known results of experiments conducted by C. Davisson and L. H. Germer on diffraction of electrons and by Rutherford on  particles scattering are considered.

ТЕНДЕНЦИИ РАЗВИТИЯ НАУКИ И ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ•Apr 1, 2021•0 citations
An experiment analogous to the classical diffraction of light from a circular aperture has been realized with electrons. The results are used to introduce undergraduate students to the wave behaviour of electrons. The diffraction fringes produced by the circular aperture are compared to those predicted by quantum mechanics and are exploited to present and discuss the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
An experiment analogous to that devised by Grimaldi and subsequently repeated by Young to study the nature of light has been realized with electrons. Following the Grimaldi and Young line of thought, an original approach is presented to introduce undergraduate physics students to the wave behaviour of electrons. An electron microscope equipped with a low coherent source of electrons and a thin platinum wire, acting as an opaque obstacle, is used to reproduce the experimental conditions adopted by Grimaldi and Young with light. Electron interference fringes produced in the geometrical shadow of the obstacle are interpreted by assuming that electrons behave like a sound or a light wave. This hypothesis is confirmed by the modelling of the experimental electron interference patterns.
We show that the quantum mechanical interpretation of the diffraction of light on a slit, when a wave function is assigned to a photon, can be used for a direct experimental study of Heisenberg’s position-momentum and equivalent positionwave vector uncertainty relation for the photon. Results of an experimental test of the position-wave vector uncertainty relation, where the wavelength is used as the input parameter, are given and they very well confirm our approach. The same experimental results can also be used for a test of the position-momentum uncertainty relation when the momentum p0 of a photon is known as the input parameter. We show that a measurement of p0, independent of the knowledge of the value of the Planck’s constant, is possible. Using that value of p0, a test of the position-momentum uncertainty relation could be regarded as a method for a direct measurement of the Planck’s constant. This is discussed, since the diffraction pattern is also well described by classical electrodynamics in the considered experimental conditions. This approach for testing the Heisenberg’s uncertainty relations is very simple and consequently suitable as a quantitative exercise in undergraduate experimental courses, as well as a visual and attractive demonstration of the Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle in courses of quantum mechanics.
This experiment investigates the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle (HUP) through an optical analogue using Single-slit diffraction of a monochromatic He–Ne laser. The spatial confinement of light through slits of varying width is compared with the resulting diffraction patterns, providing a means to examine the relationship between position uncertainty ∆x and transverse momentum uncertainty ∆px. Diffraction patterns were recorded using a photodiode detector, and the angular positions of the first minima were determined and used to estimate the spread in momentum via the de-Broglie relation. The results demonstrates and are consistent with the expected inverse relationship. The measured diffraction patterns were also found to adhere to the Fraunhofer diffraction relation, supporting the validity of the experimental model and the goodness of fit of the data.The calculated uncertainty products were further found to be consistent with the expected magnitude of Planck's constant. and therefore the the findings support the interpretation of diffraction as a classifcal manifestation of the Foruier relation between position and momentum space. Thus providing a physically intuituve demonstration of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.
The Young-Feynman two-hole interferometer is widely used to present the electron wave-particle duality and in particular the buildup of interference fringes with single electrons. The teaching approach consists of two steps: i) electrons come through only one hole but diffraction effects are disregarded; ii) electrons come through both holes and interference fringes are described. Therefore, a student might believe that wave phenomena are not revealable in case i) but they arise only by the combined effect of electrons from the two holes. To avoid misunderstanding regarding the distribution of electrons passing through one hole, Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction patterns are discussed. In particular, an original experiment, realized with a standard electron microscope and a sample with round holes is presented to introduce the wave nature of electrons. The experimental results clearly show that a careful discussion of electron diffraction phenomena from one hole provides students with the evidence that the interference experiment from both holes is not strictly required to show the superposition of electron waves.
In this short paper a new thought experiment has been introduced to illustrate the famous Heisenberg's uncertainty principle based on Otto-Wiener's experiment (1890) associated with standing light waves. This illustration is quite easy as well as far more realizing than all other thought experiments generally found in textbooks. In this work seeding of quantum nature of light has been done with the Otto-Wiener's experiment. May be this new thought experiment will help the students to understand the Heisenberg's principle in a better way and also enhance their interest of learning quantum mechanics from the beginning of their course.