Double-slit Interference Pattern Research Articles

Modulation of H atom photoelectron momentum distribution by chirped laser pulses of different wavelengths

The wavelength dependence of the holographic interference structure in the photoelectron momentum distribution (PMD) of hydrogen atoms under a few-cycle chirped laser field is investigated using a two-dimensional (2D) semiclassical two-step (SCTS) model. Under the constraint of a fixed chirp parameter, we observe an amplification in the impact of the chirp parameter on the laser field waveform as the wavelength increases. This enhancement facilitates effective modulation of the ionization time window. As the wavelength reaches a certain threshold, the double-slit interference pattern undergoes an observable expansion towards the left. Furthermore, based on the variations in X-axis momentum (Px) concerning ionization time at different wavelengths and the corresponding distribution of classical electron trajectories at those wavelengths, we present a more comprehensive explanation for the expansion of interference patterns. This expansion can be attributed to changes in wavelength, which result in modifications to the laser field’s waveform, consequently leading to a significant acceleration of ionized electrons when exposed to chirped laser pulses. It is worth noting that by tuning the negative chirp parameter, the leftward expansion of the double-slit interference pattern can also be achieved, particularly when shorter wavelengths of chirped laser pulses are employed.

University students’ recognition of typical wave optics patterns

The recognition and distinction of typical interference and diffraction patterns are among the expected learning outcomes of studying wave optics. Previous studies have reported high school students’ difficulties with this task. In this study, we investigated university students’ ability to distinguish typical wave optics patterns obtained by the double slit, single slit, and diffraction grating. We also used eye tracking to obtain an insight into the distribution of students’ visual attention during the task. The results showed that university students had similar difficulties in recognizing wave optics patterns as high school students. They mostly struggled with identification of the double-slit interference patterns and diffraction grating patterns of monochromatic light while they were more successful in recognition of the diffraction pattern of white light on an optical grating and single-slit diffraction patterns. The eye-tracking data also revealed that students spent more time attending colourful than grey patterns in questions regarding diffraction of white light on an optical grating, thus suggesting that they were aware that the diffraction grating separates white light into colours. In questions regarding monochromatic light patterns, students overall mostly attended the single-slit diffraction pattern probably because of its distinct central maximum. Furthermore, the longer fixation duration for patterns compared to the text implies that students found it easier to extract information from the text than from the patterns. No prior research has compared the number of transitions during problem solving with the accuracy of the answers. In this study, we observed that students who incorrectly solved a task demonstrated a significantly higher number of gaze transitions between the question and the options, as well as among different options. The results of this study indicate that the recognition of typical wave optics patterns is also difficult for university students, thus suggesting that more attention should be paid to systematic observation and identification of key features of basic wave optics phenomena in lecture demonstrations and student laboratories.

Superconducting diode effect and interference patterns in kagome CsV3Sb5.

The interplay among frustrated lattice geometry, non-trivial band topology and correlation yields rich quantum states of matter in kagome systems1,2. A series of recent members in this family, AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb or Cs), exhibit a cascade of symmetry-breaking transitions3, involving the 3Q chiral charge ordering4-8, electronic nematicity9,10, roton pair density wave11 and superconductivity12. The nature of the superconducting order is yet to be resolved. Here we report an indication of dynamic superconducting domains with boundary supercurrents in intrinsic CsV3Sb5 flakes. The magnetic field-free superconducting diode effect is observed with polarity modulated by thermal histories, suggesting that there are dynamic superconducting order domains in a spontaneous time-reversal symmetry-breaking background. Strikingly, the critical current exhibits double-slit superconductivity interference patterns when subjected to an external magnetic field. The characteristics of the patterns are modulated by thermal cycling. These phenomena are proposed as a consequence of periodically modulated supercurrents flowing along certain domain boundaries constrained by fluxoid quantization. Our results imply a time-reversal symmetry-breaking superconducting order, opening a potential for exploring exotic physics, for example, Majorana zero modes, in this intriguing topological kagome system.

Concerning the direction of the Aharonov–Bohm deflection

The interaction of a solenoid with a passing charged particle can be treated within classical or quantum physics. If charged particles pass around both sides of a solenoid, there is an experimentally-observed Aharonov–Bohm deflection of the double-slit particle interference pattern between charges passing on opposite sides. Such a deflection can be obtained by a classical force calculation. Although the magnitude of the angular deflection agrees between the classical force calculation and the quantum topological theory, the direction of the predicted deflection is opposite. Here we point out the simple basis for the direction of the deflection based upon classical electrodynamics and based upon quantum theory. Also, we mention some deflection analogs, both the electrostatic deflection of the particle interference pattern and the optical analog of the classical calculation. The deflection direction involves an experimental question which is addressed rarely if ever. In the deflection direction, there is a direct experimental confrontation connected with the long-standing controversy involving the interpretation of the Aharonov–Bohm phase shift.

Analysis of single-photon self-interference in Young’s double-slit experiments

For centuries Young’s double-slit interference continues to be a hot discussion subject about whether light is waves or particles. This work unravels the self-interference parados, and sheds light on such a concept that assumes a photon can split, self-interfere, and recombine. This work elucidates how coherent photons from a laser source could produce a double-slit interference pattern without the hypothesis of unphysical splitting and recombination of a single photon. Unlike the conventional single wave-function description for the whole ensemble of particles, we develop a pilot-wave trajectory approach to track every photon’s wave-packet propagation and calculate the evolution of the interference intensity in time. We demonstrate how wave packets and phase coherence affect the interference pattern. To resolve the century-old self-interference paradox, we show that such an hypothesis is unnecessary, and the illusion is due to the long coherence length of laser photons and overlaps of delocalized light wave packets.

Psychophysical interactions with a double-slit interference pattern: Exploratory evidence of a causal influence

An experiment we conducted from 2012 to 2013, which had not been previously reported, was designed to explore possible psychophysical effects resulting from the interaction of a human mind with a quantum system. Participants focused their attention toward or away from the slits in a double-slit optical system to see if the interference pattern would be affected. Data were collected from 25 people in individual half-hour sessions; each person repeated the test ten times for a total of 250 planned sessions. “Sham” sessions designed to mimic the experimental sessions without observers present were run immediately before and after as controls. Based on the planned analysis, no evidence for a psychophysical effect was found. Because this experiment differed in two essential ways from similar, previously reported double-slit experiments, two exploratory analyses were developed, one based on a simple spectral analysis of the interference pattern and the other based on fringe visibility. For the experimental data, the outcome supported a pattern of results predicted by a causal psychophysical effect, with the spectral metric resulting in a 3.4 sigma effect (p = 0.0003), and the fringe visibility metric resulting in 7 of 22 fringes tested above 2.3 sigma after adjustment for type I error inflation, with one of those fringes at 4.3 sigma above chance (p = 0.00001). The same analyses applied to the sham data showed uniformly null outcomes. Other analyses exploring the potential that these results were due to mundane artifacts, such as fluctuations in temperature or vibration, showed no evidence of such influences. Future studies using the same protocols and analytical methods will be required to determine if these exploratory results are idiosyncratic or reflect a genuine psychophysical influence.

Exploring the double-slit interference with linearly polarized photons

The linearly polarized quasi-real photons from the highly Lorentz-contracted Coulomb fields of relativistic heavy ions can fluctuate to quark-antiquark pairs, scatter off a target nucleus and emerge as vector mesons. In the process, the two colliding nuclei can switch roles to act as photon emitter or target, forming a double-slit interference pattern. The product from photoproduction inherits the photon polarization states, leading to the asymmetries of the decay angular distributions. In this letter, we study the interference effect in polarization dimension from the asymmetries of the decay angular distributions for photoprodution in heavy-ion collisions and find a periodic oscillation with the transverse momentum of vector meson, which could reasonably explain the transverse momentum dependence of the 2nd-order modulation in azimuth for the $\rho^{0}$ decay observed by the STAR collaboration.

Pseudo-Double-Slit Experiment with Two Glass Plates

We have demonstrated both interference and diffraction of a pseudo-double slit using two glass plates with a width and a length of about 5 cm and a thickness of about 5 mm. The plates are attached at the upper and lower ends with Scotch tape of about 0.1 to 0.3 mm between the plates. By adjusting the angle between the two plates, we are able to demonstrate a single-slit diffraction pattern or a double-slit interference pattern. Also we can simulate a changing separation between slits by changing the angle between the plates.

Student recognition of interference and diffraction patterns: An eye-tracking study

Previous studies have demonstrated that students have difficulties in applying the wave model of light to explain single-slit diffraction and double-slit interference patterns. In this study, we investigated if students could recognize typical interference and diffraction patterns at all. Eye movements of high-school students were measured while they were identifying patterns produced by monochromatic light on a double slit, single slit, and diffraction grating, and by white light on a diffraction grating. Most students had difficulties with recognizing double-slit interference pattern and diffraction grating pattern of monochromatic light. Identification of the single-slit diffraction pattern was easier probably due to its distinguishable central maximum. The easiest task for students was recognizing the diffraction pattern of white light on an optical grating. Eye-tracking data suggested that even students who incorrectly answered this question were aware that the diffraction grating separates white light into colors. Additionally, eye tracking revealed that students who identified patterns correctly attended more the correct pattern than other options, thus corroborating previous findings. Overall, the results indicate that the recognition of interference and diffraction patterns is quite demanding for students, suggesting that more attention should be paid to observing and understanding basic wave optics phenomena.

Uma ótica possivelmente mecânica

This paper investigates the refraction/reflection laws and the double slit interference pattern for particles. We used boundary conditions that consider the discrete and vibrant structure of the matter with which the particles interact, resulting in their scattering, enabling the use of the Huygens and Huygens-Fresnel principles for particles. We managed to obtain results that generalize Snell’s law, the reflection law and Young’s double slit pattern, for regions very close to the refraction/reflection interface and the slits. The choice made of the scattering used, seems to be the key for a mechanical explanation of light and Young’s double slit pattern, including the case of the particles passing through the slit one at a time, therefore, it challenges the validity of the Niels Bohr’s complementarity principle and might be the missing link that reconnects without hierarchies both Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics.

Exploring the Phenomena of a Quantum Eraser in Young’s Double Slit Experiment

This experiment explores the quantum phenomenon known as the Quantum Eraser, using a variation of Young’s Double Slit experiment. Young’s Double Slit experiment demonstrates that light acts as a wave by creating an interference pattern when diffracted through two slits. If one measures which of the two slits the photons pass through, then the interference pattern is replaced by a single bright spot, as would be expected for particle-like behaviour. The “Quantum Eraser” eliminates the measurement on the photons, thereby reintroducing the interference pattern observed in Young’s original experiment. The experiment’s first stage saw Young’s Double Slit experiment recreated and an interference pattern was observed. Upon adding two orthogonally polarized filters, the photon’s path was measured, and the interference pattern was removed. By then adding a third filter which was polarized 45O relative to both other polarisers, the interference pattern was somewhat restored. For each experiment, the heights of the peaks in the interference patterns were compared to each other to examine the quality of the reproduced interference pattern based on the original double slit interference pattern. This comparison gave a quantitative result that demonstrated that the Quantum Eraser was able to restore the interference pattern to within 5 standard errors, thereby exemplifying the effect that changing the measurement conditions affects the final measurement.

Double-slit experiment at Fermi scale: Coherent photoproduction in heavy-ion collisions

The double-slit experiment has become a classic thought experiment, for its clarity in expressing the central puzzle of quantum mechanics -- wave-particle complementarity. Such wave-particle duality continues to be challenged and investigated in a broad range of entities with electrons, neutrons, helium atoms, C$_{60}$ fullerenes, Bose-Einstein condensates and biological molecules. All existing experiments are performed with the scale larger than angstrom. In this article, we present a double-slit scenario at fermi scale with new entities -- coherent photon products in heavy-ion collisions. Virtual photons from the electromagnetic fields of relativistic heavy ions can fluctuate to quark-antiquark pairs, scatter off a target nucleus and emerge as vector mesons. The two colliding nuclei can take turns to act as targets, forming a double-slit interference pattern. Furthermore, the `which-way' information can be partially solved by the violent strong interactions in the proposed scenario, which demonstrates a key concept of quantum mechanics -- complementary principle.

High-resolution angle sensor using multiple peak positions of a double slit interference pattern.

A high-resolution angle sensor which uses a double slit (DS) is proposed. By analyzing the positions of intensity peaks in the DS interference pattern, the incident angle of a collimated beam entering the DS is measured. The DS was designed to generate the multiple-order interference pattern with almost even modulation amplitude so that not only the central peak but also multiple side peaks could be used for the measurement. By averaging the incident angle values obtained from each peak position, the angle sensor achieved higher resolution and a smaller periodic nonlinearity error. The performance of the DS angle sensor was tested by comparison with a commercial autocollimator. The Allan deviation of the readout of the angle sensor was 0.0002 in. with the averaging time of 4 s, and the periodic nonlinearity error was evaluated to be less than 0.01 in.

Delocalization of a Vacancy across Two Neon Atoms Bound by the van der Waals Force.

We experimentally study 2p photoionization of neon dimers (Ne_{2}) at a photon energy of hν=36.56 eV. By postselection of ionization events which lead to a dissociation into Ne^{+}+Ne we obtain the photoelectron angular emission distribution in the molecular frame. This distribution is symmetric with respect to the direction of the charged vs neutral fragment. It shows an inverted Cohen-Fano double slit interference pattern of two spherical waves emitted coherently but with opposite phases from the two atoms of the dimer.

Miniaturized beamsplitters realized by X-ray waveguides.

This paper reports on the fabrication and characterization of X-ray waveguide beamsplitters. The waveguide channels were manufactured by electron-beam lithography, reactive ion etching and wafer bonding techniques, with an empty (air) channel forming the guiding layer and silicon the cladding material. A focused synchrotron beam is efficiently coupled into the input channel. The beam is guided and split into two channels with a controlled (and tunable) distance at the exit of the waveguide chip. After free-space propagation and diffraction broadening, the two beams interfere and form a double-slit interference pattern in the far-field. From the recorded far-field, the near-field was reconstructed by a phase retrieval algorithm (error reduction), which was found to be extremely reliable for the two-channel setting. By numerical propagation methods, the reconstructed field was then propagated along the optical axis, to investigate the formation of the interference pattern from the two overlapping beams. Interestingly, phase vortices were observed and analysed.

Double-Slit Interference Pattern for a Macroscopic Quantum System

In this study, we solve analytically the Schrodinger equation for a macroscopic quantum oscillator as a central system coupled to two environmental micro-oscillating particles. Then, the double-slit interference patterns are investigated in two limiting cases, considering the limits of uncertainty in the position probability distribution. Moreover, we analyze the interference patterns based on a recent proposal called stochastic electrodynamics with spin. Our results show that when the quantum character of the macro-system is decreased, the diffraction pattern becomes more similar to a classical one. We also show that, depending on the size of the slits, the predictions of quantum approach could be apparently different with those of the aforementioned stochastic description

Reassessment of an independent verification of psychophysical interactions with a double-slit interference pattern

Reassessment of an independent verification of psychophysical interactions with a double-slit interference pattern

Independent verification of psychophysical interactions with a double-slit interference pattern

Independent verification of psychophysical interactions with a double-slit interference pattern

Measurements and analysis of both single slit diffraction and double-slit interference patterns by using a DSLR camera

Measurements and analysis of both single slit diffraction and double-slit interference patterns by using a DSLR camera

Young’s double-slit interference pattern from a twisted beam

The interference pattern of a Laguerre Gaussian beam in a double slit experiment is reported. Whereas a typical laser beam phase front is planar, a Laguerre Gaussian beam exhibits a wave front that is twisting along the direction of propagation. This leads to a distorted interference pattern. The topological charge also called the order of the twisted beam can be then readily and simply determined. More precisely, the naked eye resolution of the distortion shift of the interference pattern directly informs about the number of twists made as well as on the sign of the twist. These results are in very good agreement with theoretical calculations that offer a general description of the double slit interference with twisted beams.