Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => Science Experiments => Topic started by: Sharan Asundi on 20/02/2014 16:09:30

Title: Double Slit Experiment (With Observer) - Small Satellite Platform
Post by: Sharan Asundi on 20/02/2014 16:09:30

Folks,

I'm new to this forum and would like to seek your inputs/suggestions/advice on conducting the famous double slit experiment with an observer on a small satellite (SmallSat) platform. We'd like to propose a CubeSat mission to conduct the experiment in space. The form factor of the satellite can either be 30x10x10 cm or 30x20x10 cm and we need to fit the entire experiment and the satellite bus (electronics, power, communications, etc) in this volume. As experts in this field, can you please share your thoughts with regards to:

(i) The implications/interest-level of conducting such an experiment in space.
(ii) Suggestions for apparatus (single/quasi-single photo/electron emitter, detector and observer), which can fit in the proposed volume (~ 30x10x10)

Thank you all,
Sharan

Title: Re: Double Slit Experiment (With Observer) - Small Satellite Platform
Post by: JP on 28/02/2014 16:57:26

Quote from: Sharan Asundi on 20/02/2014 16:09:30

(i) The implications/interest-level of conducting such an experiment in space.

I don't think there would be much interest because there isn't much to learn by doing this.  Current theory explains the results well and would predict the same result in orbit, so there would be no major gain to offset the major expense of doing this.

Quote

(ii) Suggestions for apparatus (single/quasi-single photo/electron emitter, detector and observer), which can fit in the proposed volume (~ 30x10x10)

If you did this, the simplest way would probably be to use a laser with a filter to block almost all the light.  An occasional photon would slip through.  Then you could place two slits in the path of the beam and a detector to catch the photons.  The largest problem would be getting a high quality detector that has minimal noise at low light levels.  You may want to look into EMCCDs, which are designed to amplify low light signals in a noise-efficient way. 

Title: Re: Double Slit Experiment (With Observer) - Small Satellite Platform
Post by: Sab on 03/03/2016 22:17:51

What would be of interest is if the experiment was carried out with the observer only observing via a mirror i.e. the observing platform was obscured from the experiment and observed "around a corner".

What has not been distinguished is whether the experiment produces different results if it is not 'directly' observed.

Title: Re: Double Slit Experiment (With Observer) - Small Satellite Platform
Post by: Colin2B on 03/03/2016 22:22:15

Quote from: Sab on 03/03/2016 22:17:51

What would be of interest is if the experiment was carried out with the observer only observing via a mirror i.e. the observing platform was obscured from the experiment and observed "around a corner".

What has not been distinguished is whether the experiment produces different results if it is not 'directly' observed.

You can do this in a school lab, don't need a satellite, and a mirror makes no difference to the result.