Yes, Young's double-slit experiment is a fundamental experiment that provides evidence for the wave-particle duality of light (and other particles). It demonstrates both the wave-like and particle-like behavior of light in a single experiment.
When light passes through a double slit, it creates an interference pattern on a screen placed behind the slits. This pattern consists of alternating bright and dark fringes. This phenomenon can be explained by considering light as a wave.
The wave nature of light is demonstrated by the interference pattern. When two waves interact, they can either reinforce each other (constructive interference) or cancel each other out (destructive interference). In the case of the double-slit experiment, the light passing through each slit behaves like a wave, and the waves interfere with each other. This interference produces the pattern of bright and dark fringes on the screen. This behavior is a characteristic of wave phenomena.
On the other hand, the particle nature of light is also evident in the experiment. When the intensity of the light passing through the double slit is reduced, such that only one photon (particle of light) passes through the apparatus at a time, a surprising result occurs. Over time, the individual photons still create an interference pattern on the screen, even though they are arriving one by one. This implies that each photon behaves as if it passes through both slits simultaneously and interferes with itself.
This aspect of the experiment highlights the particle-like behavior of light. Each photon behaves as a localized particle when it is detected on the screen, but its overall behavior demonstrates interference, which is characteristic of waves. This duality between wave and particle behavior is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics and is not easily explainable by classical physics.
In summary, Young's double-slit experiment provides evidence for the wave-particle duality of light. The interference pattern demonstrates the wave-like behavior of light, while the detection of individual photons creating the pattern over time highlights the particle-like behavior. This experiment played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the fundamental nature of light and paved the way for the development of quantum mechanics.