In the double-slit experiment, light or electron particles are shone at a solid thin plate that has two slits cut into it. A photographic plate is set up to record what comes through those slits. One or the other slit may be open, or both may be open.
When only one slit is open, the pattern on the plate is a diffraction pattern, a fairly narrow central band and dimmer bands parallel to it on each side. When both slits are open, the pattern displayed becomes very much more detailed and at least four times as wide.
More on the Double-slit experiment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment
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