Jim Al-Khalili explains the experiment that reveals the "central mystery of quantum mechanics": the double slit experiment. Sometimes called the "two-slit" or "Young's" experiment, it demonstrates that matter and energy can display the characteristics of both waves and particles, establishing the principle known as wave-particle duality. Furthermore, it questions the role of the observer in the outcome of events and demonstrates the fundamental limitation of an observer to predict experimental r

The double-slit experiment is a 19th century investigation into the properties of light that has since been found to demonstrate the wave-particle duality of photons, electrons and other particle types as well as demonstrate other quantum properties, such as superposition and interference. Debate over whether light is made up of particles or waves dates back over three hundred years. In the 17th century, Isaac Newton proclaimed that light consists of a stream of particles. His view remained the

The double-slit experiment is a fundamental experiment in quantum physics that demonstrates the wave-particle duality of light and matter. In this experiment, a beam of particles or light is directed towards a barrier with two narrow slits. When the particles pass through the slits and hit a screen on the other side, an interference pattern is observed, similar to what is seen when waves interact with each other. From a layman's perspective, the double-slit experiment can be explained as follows