We study the quantum slit diffraction problem in three dimensions. In the
treatment of diffraction of particles by a slit, it is usually assumed that the
motion perpendicular to the slit is classical. Here we take into account the
effect of the quantum nature of the motion perpendicular to the slit using the
Green function approach [18]. We treat the diffraction of a Gaussian wave
packet for general boundary conditions on the shutter. The difference between
the standard and our three-dimensional slit diffraction models is analogous to
the diffraction in time phenomenon introduced in [16]. We derive corrections to
the standard formula for the diffraction pattern, and we point out situations
in which this might be observable. In particular, we discuss the diffraction in
space and time in the presence of gravity
