le slit experiment for photons, it is classical to obtain fringes after a double slit opening, but it was notices that even if single photons are used which must pass through one slit at a time, we In the double still get the interference. A similar thing happens if electrons are usede in the experiment. Interference is observed as if the electron is a wave.
Is there a classical explanation to the interference pattern for the case of a single photon and that for electrons.
There is a simple answer: Both the photon and the electron are particles having a spiraling trajectory i.e., they have a wave behavior. When they pass a slit, their surrounding EM-field is cut away but, this EM-field don't disappear, part of it passes the other slit and comes out as an EM-wave. This EM-wave has a frequency identical to the frequency of its source, which then produce the interference.
JES
You are using a very generic behavior of waves weather classical or not.
When its partcles, the interference bands
are formed out of dots, each a particle impact.
Get the picture?
Juan Weisz you haven't understood what is an electron or a photon.
JES
There is no complete classical explanation for the interference pattern of single particles like photons or electrons in a double-slit experiment — because classical particles don’t interfere with themselves. However, Quantum Wavefront Dynamics (QWD) provides a deterministic, wave-based explanation that bridges the classical and quantum divide without invoking mystical collapse or dualism.
In QWD, a photon or electron is treated as a real physical wave, not just a probability cloud. This wave passes through both slits simultaneously — not because it’s magical, but because the wavefront remains spatially extended and coherent when undisturbed. The interference arises naturally from this extended wavefront.
Now here’s where QWD differs from traditional quantum mechanics:
• When an observation is made (e.g., trying to detect which slit the particle went through), it’s not the act of observation that causes collapse — it’s the asymmetrical distortion of the wavefront caused by that interaction.
• The wave is gradually deformed by environmental factors (e.g., a detector), causing it to focus into a localized, particle-like form. This is how QWD explains wave-to-particle transition without requiring an instant or non-physical collapse.
So yes — we observe interference even when sending one particle at a time, because the wavefront of that particle interferes with itself, as long as it is left undisturbed. And when we disturb it, we don’t “collapse” it magically; we distort the wavefront physically.
Thus, QWD offers a deterministic explanation of the interference pattern, grounded in wave physics — not classical particle theory, and not metaphysical postulates. It maintains quantum coherence and interference as long as symmetry is preserved, and explains particle-like outcomes as a physical consequence of environmental wavefront interaction.
In short: not classical, but not mysterious either — QWD gives us a real, physical picture behind the famous double-slit mystery.
CHECK my research about QWD
Adam D. Nasser There is an even simpler classical explanation. Regarding electromagnetic waves(photons) of any intensity, the law of interference was long derived by Young in his famouse two slit experiment around the year 1800. The interference pattern for an electron is caused by the interaction of the electron with the molecules of the crystal acting as a double slit via the Coulomb potential. Due to the restricted motion the inverse square changes from f=k/r^2 to f=kr which is the Hook's spring law. This one can easily prove via a limiting process-see link. Then the field of force out and in the slit becomes harmonic and this results in a wave interference. regards.
“A Numerical Experiment with the Double Slit Geometry”
Progress in Physics, vol. 3, July 2010, pp 19-22
https://www.ptep-online.com/files/pip/pip-2010-03.pdf
uploaded to this site.
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