In the double-slit experiment, the behavior of particles such as photons can indeed be influenced by the act of observation or measurement. However, it is important to note that it is not the observing machine itself that causes the interruption or collapse of the wave-like behavior of particles.
The double-slit experiment involves shining a beam of particles, such as photons or electrons, through two closely spaced slits onto a screen. When the particles are not observed or measured, they exhibit an interference pattern on the screen, indicating wave-like behavior. This suggests that the particles can exhibit characteristics of waves and pass through both slits simultaneously, interfering with each other to create an interference pattern.
However, when an observation or measurement is made to determine which slit a particle passes through, the interference pattern disappears, and the particles behave more like individual particles, creating a pattern of two distinct bands on the screen corresponding to the two slits. This is known as the collapse of the wave function.
The act of measurement or observation introduces interaction between the particles and the measurement apparatus, causing the wave-like behavior to collapse into a definite position or path. The precise mechanism of this collapse is still a subject of interpretation and debate within quantum mechanics.
It's worth noting that the observing machine or apparatus itself does not cause the interruption or collapse. Rather, it is the act of acquiring information about the particle's path through the double slits that disturbs the system and leads to a collapse of the wave function. This effect holds true regardless of the specific method used to perform the measurement.