Double-Slit Experiment in Time, Not Space

TheMatt writes "Thomas Young's double-slit experiment is a classic experiment that helped establish the wave-like nature of light. Since then, it has been done with atoms, buckyballs, and biomolecules. It has even been seen in a single molecule, and the single electron version was voted the most beautiful experiment by Physics World readers (covered previously on Slashdot). Now, PhysicsWeb is reporting that Gerhard Paulus and coworkers have conducted the double-slit experiment using a double-slit in time, not space. The "slit" was a crafted femtosecond pulse consisting of one-and-a-half cycles--say, two maxima and one minima--passed through an argon gas. Each maxima has a probability of ionizing an argon atom and producing an electron. The electrons were accelerated to a detector which observed an interference pattern since the detector had no idea which maximum produced the electron."

Comments

Can I just be the first to say...

[cliveholloway]

...that this has to be the most confusing summary ever. Here's my guess on timothy's brain processes.

double-slit ... wave-like ... femtosecond ... maxima ... minima ... interference pattern ... Oooo shiny (click's approve).

Or am I the only one who knows absolutely nothing about this subject or the significance of the experiment?

How about some *editing* timothy?

cLive ;-)

Re:Can I just be the first to say...

[Qzukk]

YHBOG

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You Have Been Out-Geeked
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That's right, you have been Out-Geeked. A story was posted that far surpasses your mental capacity for geekiness, and now you find yourself confounded and confused. Google is of little help, explaining terms like "femtosecond" in terms of seconds and "maxima" in terms of those number-thingies you keep telling yourself you need to learn to count. Wikipedia is of even less help since the Interference Pattern entry has been replaced (again) by the GNAA stating that they will interfere with wikipedia as well as links to rather disgusting pictures.

What is someone like you to do?

Well, for one you can go back to school. Complete an engineering, physics, or mathematics undergraduate degree, these are suitably geeky enough to provide you with a solid grounding in all things geeky. If you have already completed such a degree and have yet to discover that inner geek you know is hiding in there, a Ph.D. in any of those subjects will be sure to call it out. Once you have gotten comfortable with your geeky side, you will find that such terms as "wave-like" no longer faze you.

Alternatively, you can attend user groups or lectures that are attended by those geekier than you. Is a Ph.D. going to give a speech in your area about the effects of left-handed polyisobritonan radiation on psihibrionic mesh wedges? Take 3 or 4 hours of your day to attend the lecture. Rub elbows with those geekier than you, and be sure to watch over their shoulders at the notes the people in front of you are taking. User groups are particularly a good choice, while these groups typically focus on a software application or operating system, their true purpose is for the truly geeky to pass on their geekiness to those below them in the ranks. After a dozen or so meetings or lectures, you should find your geek quotient rising, as well as your capacity to further your own geekiness.