Has the Double Slit experiment ever been conducted in zero gravity?

[Mordred]

you can certainly go ahead and try it. Experiments are good training aids. Yet consider the coupling constant for gravity is roughly

 

[latex]1.7518*10^{-42} [/latex] I seriously doubt you will see any change in the experiment at zero g than on Earth.

 

However you can calculate a rough estimate via Newtons gravitational formula

 

[latex]f=\frac{GMm}{r^2}[/latex]

 

Just take the mass of the Earth and your radius with the mass of say a proton. You should be able to derive the amount of force g has on that proton.

 

Or better yet run that formula with

 

g= 9.8 m/s^2 and g equals zero. You'll find the difference so miniscule you won't be able to measure it with the mass of a proton. Not between 9.8 m/s^2 and zero g.

proton mass 1.6726219 × 10^-27

Earth mass 5.972 × 10^24 kg

radius of Earth 6,371 km

Gravitational constant 6.674×10−11 N⋅m^2/kg^2

 

I will let you plug those into the above equation.

Edited December 4, 2016 by Mordred

[pittsburghjoe]

you won't be able to measure it

 

 

I've heard this somewhere before.

 

You are assuming that the particle has mass when in superposition.

 

Please txt Stephen Hawking for me

[Mordred]

if it doesn't have mass in superposition lol. Sorry that makes little sense, didn't you read the definition of superposition I posted?

[pittsburghjoe]

You want to turn the word into a math phrase ..well, we might as well call it "magic". Whatever term you want to use to describe when a particle is in it's wave state.

[Mordred]

I don't believe that last post is worth responding to. You obviously aren't interested in understanding what a waveform means in QM.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_function

 

here is waveform collapse

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_function_collapse

 

Now are you interested in learning how Physics treats superposition and wavefunction collapse or are you more interested in making baseless assertions?

Edited December 4, 2016 by Mordred

[pittsburghjoe]

I understand that you guys turn a blind eye to wave phenomena. It's getting ridiculous.

[Mordred]

Whatever you feel, thread won't go far in this direction. I'm not here to cater to misconceptions and lack of understanding of physics.

 

I'm here to help people understand physics and lose their misconceptions.

Edited December 4, 2016 by Mordred

[pittsburghjoe]

My goal it to figure out what the hell is going on during the double slit experiment. I can't figure out why you guys have a problem with a particle being a wave OR a particle at a given moment. The slit experiment shows us that a particle changes it's path dependent on which state it is in, why is this not good enough for you?

Edited December 4, 2016 by pittsburghjoe

[Mordred]

It's not good enough to determine which polarity path it takes. That is determined by the statistical average of the wavefunction. Aka Superposition. What kind of questions are we asking?

 

Which part of the wave strikes the slits to get interferance?

what is the percentage chance the particle is at that interferance position?

What spin position was that particle in corresponding to the slits and chosen path?

How many possible paths for each spin values?

 

Which quantum number wavefunctions are involved?

 

 

That's the details behind superposition those and other questions involved

My goal it to figure out what the hell is going on during the double slit experiment. I can't figure out why you guys have a problem with a particle being a wave OR a particle at a given moment. The slit experiment shows us that a particle changes it's path dependent on which state it is in, why is this not good enough for you?

A particle always has momentum its position and momentum cannot be measured simultaneously with certainty. See Heisenburg uncertainty principle

 

This is extremely well tested and we can only reduce the uncertainty by weak interference.

 

Thats why we use probability statistics (Superposition)

Edited December 4, 2016 by Mordred

[pittsburghjoe]

Quantum Polarity is a cop-out.

 

You sound like someone that has convinced themselves of a lie. I get that it is necessary to pass the QM tests at school, but I want to bring this back down to reality.

[Mordred]

This is pointless. I'm not wasting my time on someone who has no interest in learning. Yet doesn't even understand the subject he is arguing against.

Quantum Polarity is a cop-out.

 

You sound like someone that has convinced themselves of a lie. I get that it is necessary to pass the QM tests at school, but I want to bring this back down to reality.

It was good enough to predict the wavefunctions of a gravity wave long before we detected one. I'll stick to those lies as they make accurate predictions. As well as used in many everyday real life applications. Edited December 4, 2016 by Mordred

[imatfaal]

!

Moderator Note

 

Whilst this thread may have started with an honest question it is descended into an argument from ignorance and incredulity. Any more of that style of argument and we will lock the thread.

 

And btw, if the OP states that the reason our experts don't understand or agree with the proposition is because they are blinkered or unwilling to learn then I will deem it insulting and against Rule 1 "Be Civil" - I have had it with this post-factual phenomenon of posters coming to this site and slagging off our experts because the university education of our staff does not tally with what people reckon should be the case.

 

Do not respond to this moderation

 

[StringJunky]

Quantum Polarity is a cop-out.

 

You sound like someone that has convinced themselves of a lie. I get that it is necessary to pass the QM tests at school, but I want to bring this back down to reality.

You don't what you don't know. I don't know either but I do know when I don't..

 

Why is it that people wouldn't dream of questioning the diagnostic ability or skill of of a plumber, electrician et al but will happily ride roughshod over scientists with decades of learning?

[Sensei]

My goal it to figure out what the hell is going on during the double slit experiment.

Then maybe you should start from buying setup in the first place?

Lasers 100 mW red,green,blue. Cost $12 each.

Double slit for photons cost $7.

Spend $43 and replicate experiment by yourself.

 

I can't figure out why you guys have a problem with a particle being a wave OR a particle at a given moment. The slit experiment shows us that a particle changes it's path dependent on which state it is in, why is this not good enough for you?

Double slit experiment with photons, interference pattern changes when different energy photons are used (classic wavelength=hc/E), therefor I said to buy 3 lasers red,green,blue, to compare differences.

 

Double slit experiment with electrons, interference pattern changes when different kinetic energy of particle is used.

[pittsburghjoe]

How much helium would be required to send this up to space?

[Klaynos]

How much helium would be required to send this up to space?

What do you mean by space? The atmosphere doesn't just end. Gravity certainly doesn't just end.

 

The difference between what you're saying and what a scientist would do is that the scientist would calculate how much gravity would need to vary by to observe a measurable difference, not just guessing.

 

You know the iss isn't in zero g right? Things float because they're in free fall with the container (space station).

[Sensei]

How much helium would be required to send this up to space?

Ballon can reach only certain altitude and that depends on density of gas, and density of atmosphere at that altitude, around ballon.

When pressure is 101325 Pa, temperature is T=273.15 K, there is 0.04464 mol/L (ideal gas law).

Multiply it by molar mass of gas, and you have density of gas.

f.e. Hydrogen H₂ has molar mass 2.016 g/mol

0.04464 * 2.016 = 0.08999424 g/L density of Hydrogen gas

Helium He has molar mass 4.0026 g/mol

0.04464 * 4.0026 = 0.178676064 g/L density of Helium gas

Ballon has mass of gas inside it, plus mass of device, so overall density will be higher than above one mentioned.

Use some calculator (Google "density altitude calculator") to learn what density of atmosphere is at certain altitude and confront it with above ballon density.

Device lighter than air can't go further altitude were they both are equal.

 

[pittsburghjoe]

The point of the experiment is to see if gravity has anything to do with a particle when in it's wave form (unmeasured). Is true zero g required, good question. Umm, free falling would be worth a shot if zero g is going to be problematic.

Ballon can reach only certain altitude and that depends on density of gas, and density of atmosphere at that altitude, around ballon.
When pressure is 101325 Pa, temperature is T=273.15 K, there is 0.04464 mol/L (ideal gas law).
Multiply it by molar mass of gas, and you have density of gas.
f.e. Hydrogen H₂ has molar mass 2.016 g/mol
0.04464 * 2.016 = 0.08999424 g/L density of Hydrogen gas
Helium He has molar mass 4.0026 g/mol
0.04464 * 4.0026 = 0.178676064 g/L density of Helium gas
Ballon has mass of gas inside it, plus mass of device, so overall density will be higher than above one mentioned.
Use some calculator (Google "density altitude calculator") to learn what density of atmosphere is at certain altitude and confront it with above ballon density.

Device lighter than air can't go further altitude were they both are equal.

 

 

hmm, can I get into trouble with the government for launching something like this?

If the balloon carried a rocket, could it launch the experiment further up into space after the balloon became equalized?

Edited December 4, 2016 by pittsburghjoe

[swansont]

The point of the experiment is to see if gravity has anything to do with a particle when in it's wave form (unmeasured). Is true zero g required, good question. Umm, free falling would be worth a shot if zero g is going to be problematic.

 

"Wave form" does not mean unmeasured.

 

There are lots of experiments that have been done in freefall. In space (orbit), vomit-comet style planes, and drop towers. The distinction there is there was some propsed reason for the experiment, rather than just not understanding physics.

[Sensei]

hmm, can I get into trouble with the government for launching something like this?

Depends were you are.

 

That's the last thing you should bother in this experiment..

 

If the balloon carried a rocket, could it launch the experiment further up into space after the balloon became equalized?

Ballon that carry rocket would have to be giant.

Hindenburg had 245 meters.

And could carry a few tons of payload.

[pittsburghjoe]

Zing! Soo much sass. I would happily use the correct term for an unmeasured particle if you have one.

 

okay, I will search around for freefall experiments.

[pzkpfw]

Sorry if it's already been mentioned, but would a double-slit experiment performed on Earth, but 90 degrees rotated from "usual" satisfy?

 

i.e. the slits are normally arranged "||", with the interference patterns seen along a strip that ranges left-and-right; instead, arrange the entire experiment so that the slits are horizontal, and the interference patterns are seen along a strip that ranges up-and-down.

 

Would you expect a different result?

 

Or - is there a claim that gravity causes "an effect", but that direction isn't involved?

[swansont]

Sorry if it's already been mentioned, but would a double-slit experiment performed on Earth, but 90 degrees rotated from "usual" satisfy?i.e. the slits are normally arranged "||", with the interference patterns seen along a strip that ranges left-and-right; instead, arrange the entire experiment so that the slits are horizontal, and the interference patterns are seen along a strip that ranges up-and-down.Would you expect a different result?Or - is there a claim that gravity causes "an effect", but that direction isn't involved?

That's one of the stuations I was referring to. It can matter in an interferometer, but only if your experiment is designed to be very sensitive. The two paths have a different amount of energy, which will cause a fringe shift, but you need to be sensitive to effects of order mgh. An atom interferometer, for example.

 

But in a typical double-slit experiment, the effect is negligible.

[imatfaal]

Sorry if it's already been mentioned, but would a double-slit experiment performed on Earth, but 90 degrees rotated from "usual" satisfy?

 

i.e. the slits are normally arranged "||", with the interference patterns seen along a strip that ranges left-and-right; instead, arrange the entire experiment so that the slits are horizontal, and the interference patterns are seen along a strip that ranges up-and-down.

 

Would you expect a different result?

 

Or - is there a claim that gravity causes "an effect", but that direction isn't involved?

Lovely lateral thinking.

 

We might as well do one pointing straight up as well - although as SwansonT mentioned that we have already commpared switching from vertical to horizontal slits I guess we have already tried slits perpendicular to the earth's surface

[pittsburghjoe]

I'm reading though a free fall paper now http://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/research-centres-and-groups/the-centre-for-cold-matter/public/Florian-Baumg%C3%A4rtner-(2011).pdf

"Atom interferometry in free fall demonstrates fundamental quantum physics and a new level of technology readiness for future experiments in space."

 

https://physics.aps.org/articles/v6/23