Engineering question: How does the electron gun shoot one electron at a time to the double slit target? How was this possible when the experiment was done 100 years ago? How is this done with photons? Is there a check to ensure only one electron/photon is arriving at the target?
4
-
$\begingroup$ This isn't really the same question, but it may help - Does the collapse of the wave function happen immediately everywhere? $\endgroup$– mmesser314Dec 11, 2022 at 0:34
-
$\begingroup$ In a standard transmission electron microscope there is only one electron in the column at a time. Low current, and they move fast… $\endgroup$– Jon CusterDec 11, 2022 at 1:57
-
$\begingroup$ see sps.ch/artikel/progresses/… $\endgroup$– anna vDec 11, 2022 at 6:03
-
$\begingroup$ also this teachspin.com/two-slit $\endgroup$– anna vDec 11, 2022 at 6:08
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
3
In practice, you set the intensity of the source to a level at which it is unlikely that there is more than one electron or photon in the apparatus at a time. It doesn't have to be perfect.
-
$\begingroup$ For photons there are single-photon sources that can truly only emit one photon at a time. $\endgroup$ Dec 11, 2022 at 1:42
-
$\begingroup$ @JonCuster True, but the classic experiments didn't use them and they are not necessary. $\endgroup$ Dec 11, 2022 at 1:51
-
$\begingroup$ Agreed, just pointing out that they exist. $\endgroup$ Dec 11, 2022 at 1:54