# Non-Interference patterns Evolving to Interference Patterns — Violating Both Classical Optics and Quantum Optics

Hui Peng

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Hui Peng. Non-Interference patterns Evolving to Interference Patterns — Violating Both Classical Optics and Quantum Optics. 2023. hal-04193114

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# Non-Interference patterns Evolving to Interference Patterns ---
## Violating Both Classical Optics and Quantum Optics

Hui Peng

James Peng's Lab, Fremont, CA, USA

*Corresponding author: davidpeng1749@yahoo.com

**Abstract** Young's double slit experiments revived the wave theory of light. The standard interpretation is that the light behaves as waves *before and after* passing through the double slit, and the superposition of waves produces the interference pattern. Feynman called the double slit experiment the only mystery in quantum mechanics. In this article, we experimentally show the novel universal phenomena: (1) the light is particles, but waves: within macro-distance from a diaphragm, the light rays produce non-interference patterns; while near the screen, the photons produce orthogonal interference patterns; (2) the non-interference patterns evolve to the orthogonal interference patterns gradually in the same experiment; (3) the evolution of the patterns cannot be interpreted by either classic optics or the quantum optics; (4) the non-interference patterns and the orthogonal interference patterns can show on the screen simultaneously; (5) The convex lens stops the further evolution. The experiments: (1) challenge the classical optics and quantum optics; (2) violate both Bohr's complementarity principle and wave particle duality; (3) provide profound phenomena for developing optics and for studying the nature of light; (4) suggest that a complete theory should be able to consistently interpret all phenomena, including the non-interference pattern, the interference pattern, and the evolution from the non-interference to the interference pattern in the same wave experiment.

**Keywords:** double slit, cross double slit, grating, interference pattern, non-interference pattern, evolution of pattern, superposition of waves

## 1. Introduction

Historically, the study of the nature of light reached two concepts: wave and particle. In 1690, Huygens established the wave theory of light [1]. In 1704, Newton established particle theory [2], which states that light is made up of small discrete particles that travel in a straight line with a finite velocity. In 1801, Young's double slit experiment [3] and the Arago-spot experiment [4] revived Huygens' wave theory. In 1905, Einstein's Photoelectric theory [5] revived, in some sense, particle theory. In 1960s, the coherent waves explain interference phenomena [6].

In this article, we report the novel phenomena of the wave experiments, which lead to new understanding and new mystery, and provide fundamental evidence for developing a complete theory of light.

## 2. Experiments with Photon Chamber:
### Light Behaves as Particles in Wave Experiments

#### 2.1. Four Zones

In Section 2, we show that, in the classical wave experiments, such as the double slit experiment and 1D-grating experiments, within certain macro-distance from the diaphragms (Zone-1), the patterns are the non-interference (referred as the “Particle patterns”); near the screen (Zone-3), the patterns are interference: between Zone-1 and Zone-3 (i.e., Zone-2), the patterns are the non-interference patterns (referred as the “Transition patterns”).

Let us define “Four Zones” first (Figure 1).

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>Figure 1. Four Zones</figcaption></figure>

**Zone-0:** between the source and the diaphragm, in which the pattern is the image of the source, not waves;

**Zone-1:** near the diaphragm, in which the patterns are non-interference, referred to as **Particle pattern**;

**Zone-2:** transition Zone, in which Particle pattern evolves gradually to orthogonal interference pattern, referred to as **Transition patterns** that are the non-interference

**Zone-3:** near the screen, in which the patterns are orthogonal **Interference patterns**.

The photon chamber-0, the bottom of Figure 1, shows that the light is particles, photons, before passing through the double slit.

Note that the boundaries between Zone-1 and Zone-2, and between Zone-2 and Zone-3 are not clear cut.

#### 2.2. Photon Chamber

For studying the nature of the light in the double slit experiments, we propose the photon chamber functioning
as a photon-detector for visualizing the photons passing through the chamber [7]. The photon chamber consists of a transparent container filled with the mixture of water and fine powder that reflects photons.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>Figure 2. Photon chamber</figcaption></figure>

Then we apply the photon chamber in the double slit experiments. After passing through the double slit, the partial of the light beams enter the photon chamber. In the photon chamber, the partial of light beam is reflected by the particles of the powder, while the partial of the light passes through the photon chamber and forms the interference pattern on the screen/detector (Figure 2).

We assume that the fine powder does not change the nature of the light and thus, the photon chamber does not change the nature of the light.

The tracks of these reflected photons are visible, which indicating that, before landing on the screen, the light behaves as particles, photons.

## 2.3. Experiments: Photon Chamber

**Experiment-1:** double slit experiment with photon chamber

**Experimental setup:** placing photon chambers in Zone-1, Zone-2 and Zone-3 respectively (Figure 3).

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Figure 3. Experimental setup: placing photon chambers in Zone-1, Zone-2 and Zone-3.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>Figure 4. Photon chambers showing Photon tracks (patterns)</figcaption></figure>

**Observations:** Figure 4(a) shows two photon tracks that correspond to the two slits, i.e., the patterns are Particle patterns, but not wave pattern. Figure 4(b) shows photon tracks that show the mixture of photons' trajectories, i.e., the patterns are Transition patterns, but not wave pattern. Figure 4(c) shows photon tracks that is the interference patterns, i.e., the photons distribute as waves.

**Conclusion:** The photon chamber detects the tracks of the light as particles in the classical wave experiments, namely to visualize the passage of the photons of the light beam. The experiment show that the light beam is photons moving through the photon chambers, while in Zone-3, the photons distribute as waves.

# 3. Experiments with Lens: non-interference patterns evolving to interference patterns

To study the patterns, we utilize the convex lens. For this purpose, we introduce Postulates.

## 3.1. Postulates: Precise Rules of Convex Lens

In the geometrical optics, the image of an object does not change (left of Figure 5). In classical wave experiments, the light coming out of the slits has the certain pattern (the Particle pattern that shows the image of the slits or disc ring). However, as we have shown above that the patterns are distance-dependent. When the convex lens moves, the patterns arriving at the input surface of the lens change (right of Figure 5). Figure 4 shows the different patterns at the different distances.

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>Figure 5. Convex lens with object (left) and double slit (right)</figcaption></figure>

We propose the following Postulates [8].

**First Postulate:** the convex lens enlarges the input image that arrives at the input surface of the lens.

**Second Postulate:** The convex lens does not change the nature and characteristics of the input pattern.

**Third Postulate:** The convex lens breaks/stops the evolution of the patterns.

**Example-1 of First Postulate:** For a regular object, the shape of the image of the object does not change. Thus, the input image that arrives at the input surface of the convex lens is the same image of the object. Namely the image of an object is not the distance-dependent.

**Example-2 of First Postulate:** For the wave experiments, the input image that arrives at the input surface of the convex lens is the pattern that is distance-dependent and
thus, the shapes of the input images are different in the same experiment.

**Example of Second Postulate:** After passing through a convex lens, the pattern keeps the same nature:

(a) if an input pattern is a Particle pattern, the output pattern is still the Particle pattern;

(b) if an input pattern is a Transition pattern, the output pattern is still the Transition pattern;

(c) if an input pattern is an Interference pattern, the output pattern is still the Interference pattern;

(d) all of the output patterns are enlarged input patterns.

**Example of Third Postulate:** as a consequence of Second Postulate, the input image and the output image of the convex lens are the same, and the output image keep the same nature and characteristics of the pattern as that of the input image; namely the evolution is stopped.

Experiments in Section 3 are based on three Postulates and confirm them. Note that the boundaries between Zone-1 and Zone-2, and between Zone-2 and Zone-3 are not clear cut. Patterns in one Zone gradually transform to the patterns in another zone. To study the evolutions of the patterns between different Zones, we utilize the convex lens.

## 3.2. Evolution of Patterns of Classical Wave Experiments

### 3.2.1. Experimental setup

Experimental setups of the experiments in Section 3.2 are the same and is shown in Figure 6.

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>Figure 6. Experimental setup for Section 3.2</figcaption></figure>

Based on Postulations, we place the lens at the different distances “L” from the diaphragm to explore the evolution of the patterns of the single slit, double slit, single slit crossing double slit, cross double slit, Arago-type disc ring, 1D grating and 2D grating.

### 3.2.2. Evolution of patterns of single slit experiment

Figure 7 shows the standard diaphragm and the pattern of a single slit

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>Figure 7. Standard single slit experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Experiment-2** (Figure 7, 8): the convex lens is placed at the distance L from the single slit of Figure 15. To study the evolution of the pattern, the L is varied from 10 mm to 1000 mm respectively.

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>Figure 8. Evolution of pattern of single slit experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Observation:** Figure 8 shows the cross-section views of the evolution of patterns, which show how the horizontal non-interference patter (start from L = 10 mm) evolves to the orthogonal interference pattern (L = 1000 mm) of single slit experiment. The patterns are distance-dependent. The pattern at L = 50 mm is the typical particle pattern which shows the image of the single slit. The pattern at L = 1000 mm is the typical Interference/diffraction pattern.

### 3.2.3. Evolution of Patterns of Double Slit Experiment

Figure 9 shows the diaphragm and the interference pattern of the standard double slit experiment

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>Figure 9. Standard double slit experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Experiment-3** (Figure 9, 10): Placing the convex lens at different distance L from the double slit.

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>Figure 10. Evolution of pattern of double slit experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Observation:** When L = 75 mm, the vertical pattern is the typical image of double-slit (Particle pattern), which is the non-interference patterns. When L ≥ 200 mm, the patterns are Transition patterns. When L ≥ 750 mm, the patterns are the interference patterns. The vertical Particle patterns gradually evolve to the orthogonal interference patterns.

**Note:** approximately, from L = 10 mm to L = 150 mm, the patterns are Particle patterns.

### 3.2.4. Evolution of patterns of single slit crossing double slit Experiment
**Experiment-4:** Figure 11 shows the standard diaphragm and the pattern of a single slit crossing a double slit.

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /><figcaption>Figure 11. Standard single slit crossing double slit experiment
Placing the convex lens at different distance L from the diaphragm.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_15.png" /><figcaption>Figure 12. Evolution of pattern of single slit crossing double slit</figcaption></figure>

**Observation:** When $L = 50$ mm, the pattern is the typical image of double-slit. When $L = 200$ to $600$ mm, we have Transition patterns. When $L \ge 800$ mm, the patterns are the interference patterns. The Particle patterns gradually evolve to the interference patterns.

**Note:** $L = 10$ mm and $L = 20$ mm show the Pre-Particle patterns, which is more complex than Particle patterns.

### 3.2.5. Evolution of patterns of orthogonal cross double slit Experiment

**Experiment-5:** Orthogonal cross double slit

Figure 13 shows the standard diaphragm and the pattern of an orthogonal cross double slit [9].

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /><figcaption>Figure 13. Standard Orthogonal cross double slit experiment
Placing the convex lens at different distances L from the diaphragm, we observe the evolution of the patterns.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_17.png" /><figcaption>Figure 14. Evolution of pattern of Orthogonal cross double slit</figcaption></figure>

**Observation:** When $L = 70$ mm, the pattern is the typical image of double-slit. When $L = 100$ to $500$ mm, we referred the patterns as Transition patterns. When $L \ge 700$ mm, the patterns are the interference patterns. The Particle patterns gradually evolve to the interference patterns.

**Note:** from $L = 10$ mm to $L = 30$ mm, the patterns are Pre-Particle patterns, which is more complex than Particle patterns.

### 3.2.6. Evolution of patterns of tilt cross double slit Experiment-6: tilt cross double slit

Figure 15 shows the standard diaphragm and the pattern of a tilt cross double slit.

<figure><img src="image_18.png" /><figcaption>Figure 15. Standard single slit crossing double slit experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Experiment-6 (Figure 16):** Placing the convex lens at different distance L from the diaphragm.

<figure><img src="image_19.png" /><figcaption>Figure 16. Evolution of pattern of tilt cross double slit</figcaption></figure>

### 3.2.7. Evolution of patterns of multi-cross-double Slit
### Experiment-7:

Figure 17 shows the standard diaphragm and the pattern of a multi cross double slit.

<figure><img src="image_20.png" /><figcaption>Figure 17. Standard multi cross double slit experiment</figcaption></figure>

Figure 18 shows the evolution of the patterns

<figure><img src="image_21.png" /><figcaption>Figure 18. Evolution of patterns of multi cross double slit experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Observation:** When $L=50$ mm, the pattern is the typical particle pattern that is the image of the diaphragm. The Pre-Particle patterns gradually evolve to Transition patterns and finally to Interference patterns at $L \ge 1200$ mm

**Note:** approximately, from $L = 10$ mm to $L = 40$ mm, the patterns are Pre-Particle patterns.

### 3.2.8. Evolution of patterns of disc ring
Experiment-8:

Figure 19 shows the standard diaphragm and the pattern of a multi cross double slit.

<figure><img src="image_22.png" /><figcaption>Figure 19. Standard disc ring experiment</figcaption></figure>

Figure 20 shows the evolution of the patterns

<figure><img src="image_23.png" /><figcaption>Figure 20. Evolution of patterns of disc ring experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Observation:** When $L=60$ mm, the pattern is the typical particle pattern that is the image of the diaphragm. The Pre-Particle patterns gradually evolve to Transition patterns and finally to Interference patterns at $L \ge 130$ mm

### 3.2.9. Evolution of patterns of 1D grating
Experiment-9

Figure 21 shows the standard diaphragm and the pattern of a 1D grating.

<figure><img src="image_24.png" /><figcaption>Figure 21. Standard 1D grating experiment</figcaption></figure>

Figure 22 shows the evolution of the patterns

<figure><img src="image_25.png" /><figcaption>Figure 22. Evolution of patterns of 1D grating experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Observation:** At $L = 50$ mm, the pattern is the typical Particle pattern, the non-interference patter. Then, the pattern gradually evolves to the interference pattern.

**Note:** at $L = 10$ mm, the pattern is Particle patterns. There is no Pre-Particle pattern.

### 3.2.10. Evolution of patterns of 2D grating
Experiment-10

Figure 23 shows the standard diaphragm and the pattern of a 2D grating.
<figure><img src="image_26.png" /><figcaption>Figure 23. Standard 2D grating experiment</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_27.png" /><figcaption>Figure 24 shows the evolution of the patterns</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_28.png" /><figcaption>Figure 24. Evolution of patterns of 2D grating experiment</figcaption></figure>

**Observation:** Figure 24 shows the evolution of the patterns. The pattern at $L = 50$ mm is the typical Particle pattern.

**Note:** at $L = 10$ mm, the pattern is Pre-Particle patterns.

**3. Summary:** The phenomena of Experiment-1 to -10 are consistent, and show that, in the classical wave experiment, the light is photons from the source to the screen/detector. The phenomena of the non-interference patterns evolving to the interference patterns is universal.

Challenges are:

(1) what is the mechanism: photons distribut as waves in Zone-3 in the classical wave experiments; while, in Zone-1 and Zone-2, photons distribute as particles;

(2) to interpret consistently: the non-interference patterns, the interference patterns, and the evolution phenomena;

(3) there is a phenomenon that: for a single slit, a double slit and a 1D grating, for which all slits are in the same orientation, there is no Pre-Particle pattern; however, for cross double slit, and 2D grating, for which the slits are in different orientations, there are Pre-Particle patterns, which is complex to interpret.

In this article, we show the novel phenomena, the new understanding of the nature of the light, and the new mystery of the classical light wave experiments for theoretically restudying the nature of the light and the concepts of both coherence and wave function collapse.

## Reference

[1] Christiaan Huygens, "Traité de la Lumière", published in Leyden by Van der Aa, French (1690).

[2] Isaac Newton, "Opticks: or, a treatise of the reflexions, refractions, inflexions and colours of light", London, (1704).

[3] Thomas Young, "The Bakerian lecture. Experiments and calculation relative to physical optics", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 94: 1-16.
doi:10.1098/rstl.1804.0001. S2CID 110408369, (1804).

[4] "Arago spot", WikipediA.

[5] Albert Einstein, "On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light", Ann. der Physik, Vol. 17, pp132-148, (1905).

[6] A. Streltsov; G. Adesso; M.B. Plenio, "Colloquium: Quantum coherence as a resource". Reviews of Modern Physics. 89 (4).
doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.89.041003. ISSN 0034-6861 Oct. 2017.

[7] Hui Peng, "Photon Chamber --- Showing Particle Nature of Light in 1D-Grating Experiments". TechRxiv. Preprint.
https://doi.org/10.36227/techrxiv.20045858.v1, 2022.

[8] Hui Peng, "Noninterference patterns and interference patterns simultaneously emerging on screen in cross double slit, 4 slits, disc ring and 1D grating experiments respectively". TechRxiv. Preprint.
https://doi.org/10.36227/techrxiv.21779957.v1, Dec. 2022.

[9] Hui Peng, "Observations of Cross-Double-Slit Experiments."
*International Journal of Physics*, vol. 8, no. 2: 39-41.
doi: 10.12691/ijp-8-2-1. Feb. (2020).