American Journal of Physics

Relationships of Wave Packet Variances

Dick H. Holze, William T. Scott

Published Nov 1, 1964• 2 citations

Abstract

Some results of interest in quantum measurement theory are derived from a consideration of a collision between two one-dimensional Gaussian wave packets. Relationships are found between the momentum and position uncertainties of the packets before and after the collision. It is shown that the coordinates of a poorly defined packet can be better defined by causing it to collide with a well-defined packet. A classical analog is presented in which the same results are obtained.

DOI: 10.1119/1.1969918

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