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Springer eBooks

On a Theory of the Collapse of the Wave Function

David Z. Albert, Lev Vaidman A

Published Jan 1, 1989• 6 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1007/978-94-017-0849-4_1

Related papers

Theory of measurements and the collapse of the wave function

Gordey B. Lesovik

Physics-Uspekhi•Apr 30, 2001•8 citations

On the Collapse of the Wave-Function

David Z. Albert

NATO ASI series. Series B : Physics•Jan 1, 1990•5 citations

Collapse of the Wave Function

Dorje C. Brody, Lane P. Hughston

This is the first single volume about the collapse theories of quantum mechanics, which is becoming a very active field of research in both physics and philosophy. In standard quantum mechanics, it is postulated that when the wave function of a quantum system is measured, it no longer follows the Schrödinger equation, but instantaneously and randomly collapses to one of the wave functions that correspond to definite measurement results. However, why and how a definite measurement result appears is unknown. A promising solution to this problem are collapse theories in which the collapse of the wave function is spontaneous and dynamical. Chapters written by distinguished physicists and philosophers of physics discuss the origin and implications of wave-function collapse, the controversies around collapse models and their ontologies, and new arguments for the reality of wave function collapse. This is an invaluable resource for students and researchers interested in the philosophy of physics and foundations of quantum mechanics.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Apr 20, 2018•12 citations

Quantum field theory solves the problem of the collapse of the wave function

Alexey V. Melkikh

The problem of measurement in quantum mechanics is that the quantum particle in the course of evolution, as described by the linear Schrodinger equation, exists in all of its possible states, but in measuring, the particle is always detected in only one of its states. This property is called the "collapse of the wave function" and was formulated by Von Neumann as one of the postulates of quantum mechanics. However, it remains unclear at what point in time and under what laws this transition occurs. This article demonstrates that the collapse of the wave function may be due to the creation or annihilation of particles (quasi-particles). The processes of the creation or annihilation of particles play a key role in the measurements and are described on the basis of quantum field theory. The system of equations of quantum field theory of particles and fields is non-linear; as a result, the principle of superposition does not hold for the theory. The collapse of the wave function is a consequence of this non-linearity and occurs at the moment of creation (annihilation) of a particle. This result demonstrates that the wave function collapse can occur in both microscopic and macroscopic systems. Understanding the mechanisms of the collapse of the wave function can lead to the creation of microscopic devices involved in the calculations based on quantum computing.

arXiv:1311.0205•Nov 1, 2013•4 citations

On a model of wave-function collapse

M. A. B. Whitaker

Physica A Statistical Mechanics and its Applications•Jul 1, 1998•1 citation

Experimental Test of qRule Theory

Richard A. Mould

Three qRules governing the collapse of a wave function are given in another paper. In most situations the predictions of this theory are identical with the predictions of other foundation theories. However, there is at least one experiment in which the qRules predict results that are characteristically different from other theories. These results are shown to be a function of molecular collisions in an experiment proposed by Collett and Pearle. Wave reductions in other collapse theories are distinctly not a function of collisions. Keywords: foundation theory, measurement, qRules, state reduction, wave collapse.

•Jan 8, 2008•2 citations
This is the first single volume about the collapse theories of quantum mechanics, which is becoming a very active field of research in both physics and philosophy. In standard quantum mechanics, it is postulated that when the wave function of a quantum system is measured, it no longer follows the Schrödinger equation, but instantaneously and randomly collapses to one of the wave functions that correspond to definite measurement results. However, why and how a definite measurement result appears is unknown. A promising solution to this problem are collapse theories in which the collapse of the wave function is spontaneous and dynamical. Chapters written by distinguished physicists and philosophers of physics discuss the origin and implications of wave-function collapse, the controversies around collapse models and their ontologies, and new arguments for the reality of wave function collapse. This is an invaluable resource for students and researchers interested in the philosophy of physics and foundations of quantum mechanics.
The problem of measurement in quantum mechanics is that the quantum particle in the course of evolution, as described by the linear Schrodinger equation, exists in all of its possible states, but in measuring, the particle is always detected in only one of its states. This property is called the "collapse of the wave function" and was formulated by Von Neumann as one of the postulates of quantum mechanics. However, it remains unclear at what point in time and under what laws this transition occurs. This article demonstrates that the collapse of the wave function may be due to the creation or annihilation of particles (quasi-particles). The processes of the creation or annihilation of particles play a key role in the measurements and are described on the basis of quantum field theory. The system of equations of quantum field theory of particles and fields is non-linear; as a result, the principle of superposition does not hold for the theory. The collapse of the wave function is a consequence of this non-linearity and occurs at the moment of creation (annihilation) of a particle. This result demonstrates that the wave function collapse can occur in both microscopic and macroscopic systems. Understanding the mechanisms of the collapse of the wave function can lead to the creation of microscopic devices involved in the calculations based on quantum computing.
Three qRules governing the collapse of a wave function are given in another paper. In most situations the predictions of this theory are identical with the predictions of other foundation theories. However, there is at least one experiment in which the qRules predict results that are characteristically different from other theories. These results are shown to be a function of molecular collisions in an experiment proposed by Collett and Pearle. Wave reductions in other collapse theories are distinctly not a function of collisions. Keywords: foundation theory, measurement, qRules, state reduction, wave collapse.