Atomic01 - University of Cape Town
Atomic01 - University of Cape Town
Atomic01 - University of Cape Town
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PHY322S Atomic Physics<br />
Double slit experiment with helium atoms<br />
Carnal & Mlynek, Phys. Rev. Lett.,66,(1991) p2689<br />
Carnal & Mlynek, Phys. Rev. Lett., 66, (1991) p2689.<br />
Experiment: He atoms at 83 K, with d = 8 µm and D = 64 cm.<br />
Path difference d sin θ. Constructive interference: d sin θ = nλ.<br />
Expected separation between maxima: ∆y = λD/d<br />
Measured separation: ∆y = 8.2 µm<br />
Energy K = 3kT/2, M = 4m u<br />
Predicted de Broglie wavelength: λ = h/ √ 3MkT = 1.03 × 10 −10 m<br />
Predicted separation: ∆y = 8.4 ± 0.8 µm<br />
Good agreement with experiment.<br />
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