scott wrote:
>> Except that's exactly the point. The math says it's the latter case. 
>> And the cat experiment is to point out how absurd that conclusion is. 
>> Hence, the math must be mistaken.
> 
> What happens if you shut the double-slit experiment away in a box, with 
> photon detector attached to each slit?  Will the interference pattern 
> still be generated?

No.  Worse, check out this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheeler%27s_delayed_choice_experiment

Basically, the photon behaves differently even if you measure it *after* it 
has passed through the slits. Which is why it's pretty safe to assume it's 
not "going thru both slits" when you get the interference pattern.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_choice_quantum_eraser

This one changes whether the photon went thru one or both slits *after* it 
has already been detected. Hard to see how that's the behavior of a wave 
that passes through both slits.

-- 
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   Human nature dictates that toothpaste tubes spend
   much longer being almost empty than almost full.

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