Controlled Double-Slit Electron Diffraction

Authors

Roger Bach, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Damian Pope, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical PhysicsFollow
Sy-Hwang Liou, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Herman Batelaan, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Sy-Hwang Liou

Herman Batelaan

Date of this Version

2012

Citation

New Journal of Physics (2012).

Comments

Copyright 2012, Institute of Physics. Used by permission.

Abstract

Double-slit diffraction is a corner stone of quantum mechanics. It illustrates key features of quantum mechanics: interference and the particle-wave duality of matter. In 1965, Richard Feynman presented a thought experiment to show these features. Here we demonstrate the full realization of his famous thought experiment. By placing a movable mask in front of a double-slit to control the transmission through the individual slits, probability distributions for single- and double-slit arrangements were observed. Also, by recording single electron detection events diffracting through a double-slit, a diffraction pattern was built up from individual events.