Diffraction occurs when waves bend around the edges of an obstacle or spread after passing through a slit. This phenomenon is essential in understanding the behavior of both light (photons) and electrons as they encounter barriers. When a wave passes through a narrow opening, it bends and creates patterns of constructive and destructive interference on the other side. These patterns include bright and dark fringes, which can be observed on a screen placed at a distance.
In the scenario involving electron and photon beams, when both pass through identical slits, the diffraction pattern reveals crucial information about their wave nature. The condition for the first dark fringe in a diffraction pattern is given by the formula:
- For a slit, \[ d \sin \theta = m\lambda \], where \( d \) is the slit width and \( m \) is the order of the fringe.
- Here, \( \theta \) is the angle at which the dark fringe appears.
Since the angle is the same for both beams, the wavelengths related to electrons and photons can be inferred to be equivalent in this context. This link lets us explore deeper properties like energy.