whats truly amazing is that interference effects do not occur with a single slit but always occur with two slits unless there are detectors also placed at the slits. If detectors are placed at the slits the interference effect disappears. By detectors I'm referring to a device such as a photomultiplier. You have a single photon emitter, a barrier with two slits [A & B], and a photomultiplier [C] on the other side of the barrier. With the single slit the probability amplitude that a photon will be detected is constant. With both slits the probability amplitude oscillates [graphed it makes a perfect sine wave] between a minimum and maximum depending on the distance between the slits. Its a 'wonderment' why detectors placed at the slits ends the interference effect.

• well then - sagefr0g - October 28, 2003 - 00:26 UTC