Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

What does "one photon hits a slit and on the other side two photons come out" mean?

There is no photon multiplication happening on the double slit.



One photon hits the slit and one photon comes out. It is only if you repeat the experiment many times that you start to see a strange wawe-like pattern in where the photons hit.

It is as if every photon that went through the slit is somehow aware of all other photons that did so too so each photon can choose the (random) position where it hits on the wall behind the slit such that together they look like as if a WAWE went through the slit.

That is (one reason) why they call it "Quantum Weirdness". God is playing dice with us


No. The same photon is aware of all alternative paths it can take, without creating or interacting with any other photon.

There's no photon multiplication, and no "all other photons" changing their path.

There is some inter-photon interaction because they are bosons. But it's not significant enough to impact the multi-slit experiment. And the experiment works exactly the same way if you send only one photon at a time.


> It is as if every photon that went through the slit is somehow aware of all other photons that did so too

Why isn't it just that there's a probability density function that describes the aggregate outcomes of a large number of samples from a random process? Why is "memory" involved?


I think because instead of two clusters like you'd expect from random BBs being shot, you get multiple bands like you'd see with interfered waves. Even when shot one at a time.




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2026 batch! Applications are open till July 27.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: