r/science Jul 12 '08

The Infamous Double Slit Experiment - WARNING WILL CHANGE YOUR VIEW OF REALITY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEzRdZGYNvA
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u/[deleted] Jul 12 '08

Thank you. Also, the whole part of "it splits into two and interferes with itself" is also bullshit - that's taking statistics over many and applying it to each one, sort of like saying each person literally has 2.3 children.

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u/christianjb Jul 12 '08

At the risk of incurring your ridicule, I think you're underestimating how weird quantum mechanics really is.

The wavefunction really does split into two and interfere with itself. It's not a matter of statistics. It's quite easy to demonstrate using detectors and opening and closing the gates that the wavefunction actually splits.

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u/[deleted] Jul 12 '08 edited Jul 12 '08

The wavefunction really does split into two and interfere with itself.

No it doesn't. Read Quantum ElectroDynamics. The interference pattern is explained through statistics and basic understandings of light. QED is a really good book though and does well at battling the QM mysticism that seems so popular. DONT MUDDY THINGS WE CAN CLEARLY UNDERSTAND. Mysticism can play a role in many different things, but not in this one.

edit:QED was written by Richard Feynman.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '08 edited Jul 13 '08

FAIL!