Energy Conservation and Quantum Collapse

David W. Snoke

Shan Gao

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.

I. S. Osborne

Edward J. Gillis

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.

Joseph H. Eberly, Hyung-In. Yoo, Pierre Meystre +2 more

Edward J. Gillis

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.