In the double-slit experiment, the wave-particle duality of particles, such as electrons or photons, is observed. While it is true that the interaction with the edges of the slits can affect the behavior of the particles, it does not solely account for the wave-like behavior observed in the experiment.
When particles, such as electrons or photons, are sent through a double-slit apparatus, they can exhibit interference patterns on a screen placed behind the slits. This means that they can create alternating bright and dark bands of intensity, which is characteristic of wave behavior.
The wave-like behavior observed in the double-slit experiment arises from the superposition and interference of the probability waves associated with the particles. Before reaching the screen, each particle is described by a wave function that contains information about its possible states or positions.
As the wave-like particle approaches the slits, it undergoes diffraction, which means it spreads out and passes through both slits simultaneously. This leads to the creation of two diffracted wavefronts that then overlap and interfere with each other. The resulting interference pattern is what is observed on the screen.
While the interaction of the particles with the edges of the slits does affect the precise details of the interference pattern, it does not fully explain the wave-like behavior. If the interaction with the edges of the slits were the sole cause of the wave behavior, one would expect to see a simple shadow pattern on the screen, similar to what is observed with classical particles.
However, the interference pattern observed in the double-slit experiment is consistent with the wave nature of particles and can be explained by the principles of quantum mechanics, which describe the behavior of particles at the microscopic level. Therefore, while the interaction with the slit edges plays a role, the overall wave-particle duality and interference phenomena in the experiment are due to the inherent quantum nature of particles.