The History and Importance of the Double-Slit Experiment: From Classical to Quantum Physics

Benjamin Noë Bauml

Moshe Wallace Callen, Shaul Sorek

In response to Orion and Laitman’s [1] explanation of the classic double-slit experiment of quantum mechanics, we propose an alternate explanation of that experiment by treating physical degrees of freedom as a conserved physical quantity, instead of referring to “vague terms” used in previous explanations, [1], that are not broadly applicable. Explanation in [1] refers to properties of groups of particles, even though the double-slit experiment’s results should address only to a single particle. By using physical degrees of freedom and the application of Hamilton’s principle, we obtain a single particle explanation of the double-slit experiment in terms of properties and via methods which apply equally in a quantum and a classical regime.

Arkady Plotnitsky

Arkady Plotnitsky

This article reconsiders the double-slit experiment from the nonrealist or, in terms of this article, "reality-without-realism" (RWR) perspective, grounded in the combination of three forms of quantum discontinuity: (1) "Heisenberg discontinuity", defined by the impossibility of a representation or even conception of how quantum phenomena come about, even though quantum theory (such as quantum mechanics or quantum field theory) predicts the data in question strictly in accord with what is observed in quantum experiments); (2) "Bohr discontinuity", defined, under the assumption of Heisenberg discontinuity, by the view that quantum phenomena and the data observed therein are described by classical and not quantum theory, even though classical physics cannot predict them; and (3) "Dirac discontinuity" (not considered by Dirac himself, but suggested by his equation), according to which the concept of a quantum object, such as a photon or electron, is an idealization only applicable at the time of observation and not to something that exists independently in nature. Dirac discontinuity is of particular importance for the article's foundational argument and its analysis of the double-slit experiment.

Jiankun Lai

Hui Peng

The double slit experiment is one of the fundamental experiments in the physical optics. In this article we show that there are logical weaknesses in the textbook geometry model of deriving the classical math formular describing the double slit experiment. Then, we propose a new geometry model and derive a new math formular for describing the double slit experiment without logical weakness. We also show that it is a challenge to interpret the phenomena of the comprehensive double slit experiment.