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arXiv:1304.0439 · Proceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences

A discrete model of energy-conserved wave function collapse

Shan Gao

Published Mar 13, 2013• 15 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Energy non-conservation is a serious problem of dynamical collapse theories. In this paper, we propose a discrete model of energy-conserved wave function collapse. It is shown that the model is consistent with existing experiments and our macroscopic experience.
DOI
10.1098/rspa.2012.0526

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Modified versions of the Schrödinger equation have been proposed in order to incorporate the description of measurement processes into the mathematical structure of quantum theory. Typically, these proposals introduce new physical constants, and imply small violations of momentum and energy conservation. These problematic features can be eliminated by assuming that wave function collapse is induced by the individual interactions that establish correlations between systems. The generation of a sufficient number of small, random shifts of amplitude between interacting and noninteracting branches of the wave function can bring about collapse on a scale consistent with our macroscopic experience. Two-particle interaction potential energies can be used as the basis for a collapse term added to the Schrödinger equation. The range of the interactions sets the distance scale of the collapse effects; the ratio of potential energies to the total relativistic energies of the particles determines the magnitude of the amplitude shifts, and the rate at which the interactions proceed fixes the timing parameters. Consistency with conservation laws in individual experiments is maintained because the collapse operator automatically takes into account the small, residual entanglement between the measured system and systems with which it has previously exchanged conserved quantities during interactions. Conservation is exact for momentum and orbital angular momentum, and it holds for energy within the accuracy allowed by the limited forms of energy describable in nonrelativistic theory.
The meaning of the wave function and its evolution are investi-gated. First, we argue that the wave function in quantum mechanics is a description of random discontinuous motion of particles, and the modulus square of the wave function gives the probability density of the particles being in certain locations in space. Next, we show that the linear non-relativistic evolution of the wave function of an isolated system obeys the free Schrödinger equation due to the requirements of spacetime translation invariance and relativistic invariance. Thirdly, we argue that the random discontinuous motion of particles may lead to a stochastic, nonlinear collapse evolution of the wave function. A dis-crete model of energy-conserved wavefunction collapse is proposed and shown consistent with existing experiments and our macroscopic expe-rience. Besides, we also give a critical analysis of the de Broglie-Bohm theory, the many-worlds interpretation and other dynamical collapse theories, and briefly discuss the issues of unifying quantum mechanics and relativity.
The assumption that wave function collapse is induced by correlating interactions of the kind that constitute measurements leads to a stochastic collapse equation that does not require the introduction of any new physical constants and that is consistent with conservation laws. The collapse operator is based on the interaction (potential) energy, with a variable timing parameter related to the rate at which individual interactions generate the correlations. The approximate localization of physical systems follows from the distance-dependent nature of the interaction potentials. The equation is consistent with strict conservation of momentum and orbital angular momentum, and it is also consistent with energy conservation within the accuracy allowed by the limited forms of energy that can be described within nonrelativistic theory. The possibility of extending the proposal to a fully relativistic version is discussed.
Abstract Modified versions of the Schrödinger equation have been proposed in order to incorporate the description of measurement processes into the mathematical structure of quantum theory. Typically, these proposals introduce new physical constants, and imply small violations of momentum and energy conservation. These problematic features can be eliminated by assuming that wave function collapse is induced by the individual interactions that establish correlations between systems. The generation of a sufficient number of small, random shifts of amplitude between interacting and noninteracting branches of the wave function can bring about collapse on a scale consistent with our macroscopic experience. Two-particle interaction potential energies can be used as the basis for a collapse term added to the Schrödinger equation. The range of the interactions sets the distance scale of the collapse effects; the ratio of potential energies to the total relativistic energies of the particles determines the magnitude of the amplitude shifts, and the rate at which the interactions proceed fixes the timing parameters. Consistency with conservation laws in individual experiments is maintained because the collapse operator automatically takes into account the small, residual entanglement between the measured system and systems with which it has previously exchanged conserved quantities during interactions. Conservation is exact for momentum and orbital angular momentum, and it holds for energy within the accuracy allowed by the limited forms of energy describable in nonrelativistic theory.