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"Quantum Interference with Slits" Revisited

Quantum Physics 2010-12-03 v1 Classical Physics Physics Education

Abstract

Marcella [arXiv:quant-ph/0703126] has presented a straightforward technique employing the Dirac formalism to calculate single- and double-slit interference patterns. He claims that no reference is made to classical optics or scattering theory and that his method therefore provides a purely quantum mechanical description of these experiments. He also presents his calculation as if no approximations are employed. We show that he implicitly makes the same approximations found in classical treatments of interference and that no new physics has been introduced. At the same time, some of the quantum mechanical arguments Marcella gives are, at best, misleading.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1009.2408,
  title  = {"Quantum Interference with Slits" Revisited},
  author = {Tony Rothman and Stephen Boughn},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1009.2408},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

11 pages, 3 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-21T16:13:11.374Z