A revised double-slit experiment to explore the mechanism of photon wavefunction collapse by numerical design

Abstract

The double-slit experiment has long been pivotal in understanding matter’s wave–particle duality. A central question revolves around Born’s interpretation of wavefunction whether a single photon demonstrates a 50% probability of passing through each slit individually as particles or simultaneously traverses both as waves. Experimentally, once the photon’s path is detected, the observer effect causes its wavefunction to collapse, rendering the results inconclusive. Designing an experiment to minimize instrumental involvement during the wavefunction collapse of photons, while aiming to gain insight into its collapse mechanism, becomes necessary. We propose a revised experiment that replaces the traditional setup with two Au nanoparticles acting as observers, triggering photon collapse before spectrum collection. In single-photon scenarios, we consider two assumptions: first, the photon wavefunctions collapse into a particle and transfer energy to one of the nanoparticles exclusively, and second, the photon acts as a wave, splitting and transferring its energy to two nanoparticles simultaneously, which does not align well with Born’s interpretation of wavefunction as spatial probabilities. These two assumptions would generate distinctly different spectra. Conversely, in high-intensity experiments, both nanoparticles collectively undergo excitation, regardless of the collapse mechanism. A comparative analysis of scattering spectra under the two conditions reveals crucial insights into the genuine nature of photon collapse. We also proposed using two molecules attached to a metal nanoparticle as an alternative design. Whether affirming or refuting the observer effect, this research holds promise for resolving the theoretical debate surrounding the collapse of wavefunctions and advancing quantum computing and communication fields.