Progress in physics

Comments on the Statistical Nature and on the Irreversibility of the Wave Function Collapse

Armando V.D.B. Assis

Published Jun 1, 2011• 0 citations

Abstract

In a previous preprint, [1], reproduced here within the appendix in its revised version, we were confronted, to reach the validity of the second law of thermodynamics for an unique collapse of an unique quantum object, to the necessity of an ensemble of measures to be accomplished within copies of identical isolated systems. The validity of the second law of thermodynamics within the context of the wave function collapse was sustained by the large number of microstates related to a given collapsed state. Now, we will consider just one pure initial state containing just one initial state of the quantum subsystem, not an ensemble of identically prepared initial quantum subsystems, e.g., just one photon from a very low intensity beam prepared with an equiprobable eigenset containing two elements, an unique observation raising two likelihood outcomes. Again, we will show the statistical interpretation must prevail, albeit the quantum subsystem being a singular, unique, pure state element within its unitary quantum subsystem ensemble set. This feature leads to an inherent probabilistic character, even for a pure one-element quantum subsystem object.

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