Re: Pedagogy of QM Double Slit Experiment

On 2005-08-25, David Park <djmp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Dear Experts,
>
> I believe that the standard textbook presentations of the quantum mechanical
> double slit experiment are often poor. They throw in complicating elements
> that tend to confuse beginning students and obscure, at least in the
> student's mind, the essential phenomenon. I would be interested in your
> comments to make certain that I haven't missed the essential points myself.

As usual, explanations of an experiment should be supplanted with actual
experimental data. The more visual the better. For example, Akira
Tonomura, at Hitachi, has a page[1] describing the electron double slit
experimentin with modern equipment. It even has a movie[2] of the
detector monitor showing the detection of individual electrons and the
gradual formation of an interference pattern.

[1] http://www.hqrd.hitachi.co.jp/em/doubleslit.cfm
[2] http://www.hqrd.hitachi.co.jp/em/movie.cfm, (2)

Igor

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