Can an Electron be in Two Places at the Same Time?

Max Planck Society ^ | 11 October 2005 | Staff

[js1138]

The whole point of the experiment is to show that particles -- electrons/photons/whatever -- form an interference pattern even when fired one at a time. Obviously it takes many particles to form an image of the pattern, but they are fired one at a time. That is what makes it spooky.

[js1138]

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/schroedinger/two-slit3.html

[ctdonath2]

Core issue is that we continue to attempt to force the reality of nature into our preconceived notions of how it should work. This "gee, it's a wave AND a particle!" view overlooks the fact that it really is something we currently can't really conceive of, and get all excited when, for a moment, we can pidgeonhole the behavior. Waveness and particleness are just incomplete subsets of a thing's overall behavior.

[Wurlitzer]

"Obviously it takes many particles to form an image of the pattern, but they are fired one at a time. That is what makes it spooky."

Agreed js1138. I'll look at the link you provided to see if they also measured and determined that only 1 electron hit the target even though only 1 was sent. Thanks

[Faraday]

I seem to remember one or another text in quantum physics referring to the particle/wave reality using the name "wavicle."

Regarding the question of the independent (of observation) reality of the physical world, ask oneself the question: Was there ever a time when the universe (as we currently understand it) existed without any observer (i.e. conscious entities with awareness of the external world)? Either there was such a time or our understanding of cosmology is seriously flawed. Also, postulating God as an observer wouldn't be sufficient, as omniscience would suggest that the uncertainty relation would not be binding, violating the very premise of the exercise.