物理学史上最美的十个实验第一名Double-slitelectrondiffraction托马斯·杨的双缝演示应用于电子干涉实验NeitherNewtonnorYoungwasquiterightaboutthenatureoflight
Thoughitisnotsimplymadeofparticles,neithercanitbedescribedpurelyasawave
Inthefirstfiveyearsofthe20thcentury,MaxPlanckandthenAlbertEinsteinshowed,respectively,thatlightisemittedandabsorbedinpackets—calledphotons
Butotherexperimentscontinuedtoverifythatlightisalsowavelike
Ittookquantumtheory,developedoverthenextfewdecades,toreconcilehowbothideascouldbetrue:photonsandothersubatomicparticles—electrons,protons,andsoforth—exhibittwocomplementaryqualities;theyare,asonephysicistputit,"wavicles
"Toexplaintheidea,toothersandthemselves,physicistsoftenusedathoughtexperiment,inwhichYoung'sdouble-slitdemonstrationisrepeatedwithabeamofelectronsinsteadoflight
Obeyingthelawsofquantummecha