Doubt in Wheeler's delayed choice experiment

In summary: This is a key concept in quantum mechanics and challenges our understanding of reality. In summary, Wheeler's delayed choice experiment shows that the behavior of particles is indeterminate until they are measured, and that observation itself affects their behavior.
  • #1
ashok vardhan
19
0
Sir, I've gone through wheeler's delayed choice experiment recently...i've got few couple of doubts in it..Please clarify them...Actually Wheeler wanted an answer for his questionthat



"what happens when a single photon, presumably already determined to get detected as part of a two-slit interference pattern, suddenly gets detected in a path coming from only one slit. Does the interference pattern then disappear?"

what answer did he get..?? and my doubt is that when we place detection screen we'll see interference pattern and if remove the screen and detect the light from slits through a telescope we 'll know by which slit has the photon come...right...?..what is the inference this observation gives..??it can behave either as wave or particle..right..?? or something else...correct me...if iam wrong antwherein my arguements..Thanking You Sir...

With Regards

Ashok.
 
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  • #2
Wheeler's answer to his question was that the photon's behavior is indeterminate until it is actually measured. This means that the photon can behave either as a wave or a particle, depending on whether or not it is being observed. This has been experimentally verified in numerous delayed choice experiments, where a photon's behavior changes depending on whether or not a detection screen is in place. The inference that can be drawn from this observation is that the behavior of particles is not determined until it is observed, and that the act of observation itself affects the behavior of the particle.
 

Related to Doubt in Wheeler's delayed choice experiment

1. What is Wheeler's delayed choice experiment?

Wheeler's delayed choice experiment is a thought experiment designed by theoretical physicist John Archibald Wheeler to explore the concept of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics. It involves a photon traveling through a series of devices (such as mirrors and detectors) that can either act as a wave or a particle, depending on how the experiment is set up.

2. How does Wheeler's delayed choice experiment challenge traditional beliefs about causality?

Wheeler's delayed choice experiment challenges traditional beliefs about causality by suggesting that an observer's actions in the present can affect the behavior of a particle in the past. This is known as retrocausality and goes against the traditional idea that cause and effect must occur in a linear fashion.

3. What is the role of the observer in Wheeler's delayed choice experiment?

The role of the observer in Wheeler's delayed choice experiment is crucial, as their actions and observations can influence the behavior of particles in the experiment. This highlights the importance of the observer in shaping the outcome of quantum experiments.

4. What are the implications of Wheeler's delayed choice experiment for our understanding of reality?

The implications of Wheeler's delayed choice experiment are still a topic of debate among scientists. Some argue that it suggests a fundamental interconnectedness between the observer and the observed, while others see it as evidence for the existence of multiple parallel universes. It challenges our traditional understanding of reality and raises questions about the nature of time and causality.

5. How does Wheeler's delayed choice experiment relate to other quantum mechanics theories?

Wheeler's delayed choice experiment is often cited as evidence for the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, which states that particles exist in a state of superposition until they are observed. It also relates to other theories such as the Many-Worlds interpretation and the Transactional interpretation, which offer different explanations for the behavior of particles in the experiment.

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