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Journal of Modern Physics

Explaining the Double-Slit Experiment

Moshe Wallace Callen, Shaul Sorek

Published Jan 1, 2011• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.4236/jmp.2011.21006

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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.
In this study, a double-slit experiment was simulated with only classical-mechanics assumptions to demonstrate that the phenomena associated with this experiment can be explained by classical mechanics. The experiment was conducted with the particle nature intact, by performing observations that did not affect the particle motion while recording the particle position at each simulation step. Only one experimental particle was assumed per session to prevent external effects. Nevertheless, wave patterns, which have previously been thought to occur only quantum-mechanically, were observed on the inspection plate. This study focused on proving that classical mechanics can explain the double-slit wave pattern.
The double-slit experiment encompasses the deepest mysteries of Quantum Mechanics. Here, we offer a physically intuitive explanation of this experiment based on insight from a recently described statistical model for the CHSH-Bell and Franson experiments. Accordingly, while each particle follows a single path as it goes through the device and into a detector, it also modifies the physical properties of the vacuum around it by spontaneously breaking its group of symmetries. The well-known pattern of interference fringes that appears in statistical analysis of long sequences of repetitions is then understood as the result of the self-interaction of the propagating particles with the polarized vacuum they create around themselves. A novel experimental setup aimed to test the offered explanation is proposed.
Abstract In this study, a double-slit experiment was simulated with only classical-mechanics assumptions to demonstrate that the phenomena associated with this experiment can be explained by classical mechanics. The experiment was conducted with the particle nature intact, by performing observations that did not affect the particle motion while recording the particle position at each simulation step. Only one experimental particle was assumed per session to prevent external effects. Nevertheless, wave patterns, which have previously been thought to occur only quantum-mechanically, were observed on the inspection plate. This study focused on proving that classical mechanics can explain the double-slit wave pattern.
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.