![]() At another location photons from each slit will arrive in phase, and their energies sum resulting in brightness. When these photons are in the opposite phase of vibration, their energies cancel producing darkness at that location. ![]() At various locations photons diffracted in the same direction from each slit cross paths. With two edges, each slit diffracts photons in both directions. More compelling evidence of the wave properties of photons appears when photons of a single wavelength are directed at two adjacent slits: Similar spectral effects also appear in reflections from the fine grooves on compact audio disks. While these fringes are scarcely noticeable with a single edge, this effect from hundreds of edges close together (a diffraction grating) adds up producing vivid spectra: Photon diffraction does not depend on the medium it travels through.Īltough it occurs for a different reason than the bending of sound waves, this similar bending of light around an edge was an early clue to its wave-like nature. However, sound waves bend as a result of spreading air or water pressure behind an edge. Long wavelength (low frequency) sound waves bend around walls and rocks. Such “bending” around an edge is characteristic of waves in general. Like the last rays from a sun below the horizon, long wavelengths are bent more than short ones due to longer proximity to the edge: 4 Notice the slight color fringe in the bent rays. ![]() How much they swerve depends on their wavelength and phase as they encounter the edge. Streams of particles don’t swerve when they meet a barrier – they either pass or not:īecause photons vibrate, those passing too close to an edge encounter a slight electron field drag on their edge side causing them to swerve behind it. ![]()
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