The particle-wave duality of the photon and the double-slit experiment can be explained within the framework of quantum mechanics, which describes the behavior of particles at the microscopic scale. While bosons can indeed overlap, this alone does not fully explain the phenomenon.
In the double-slit experiment, individual photons are sent through two closely spaced slits and then detected on a screen behind them. Surprisingly, the pattern that emerges on the screen displays an interference pattern, similar to what you would expect from waves interfering with each other. This implies that photons exhibit wave-like behavior.
The key point to understand is that particles, including photons, can exhibit both particle-like and wave-like properties depending on how they are observed or measured. In the case of the double-slit experiment, the photons behave like waves and interfere with each other, creating an interference pattern on the screen.
The wave-like behavior of photons is described by their wave function, which is a mathematical description that encompasses both their particle and wave properties. The wave function describes the probability distribution of where a photon is likely to be detected.
When many photons are sent through the double slits, each photon's wave function can overlap with the wave functions of other photons. This overlap leads to interference effects, resulting in the characteristic pattern on the screen.
It's important to note that individual photons are detected as discrete particles at specific points on the screen, which is the particle-like aspect of their behavior. However, the overall pattern that emerges indicates the wave-like nature of photons.
So, while bosonic nature and overlap can contribute to the interference pattern observed in the double-slit experiment, the particle-wave duality of photons is a more fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics that goes beyond the properties of individual particles.