Some experimental implications of the recent progress on wave function collapse are calculated. Exact results are derived for the center-of-mass wave function collapse caused by random scatterings and applied to a range of specific examples. The results show that recently proposed experiments to measure the GRW effect are likely to fail, since the effect of naturally occurring scatterings is of the same form as the GRW effect but generally much stronger. The same goes for attempts to measure the collapse caused by quantum gravity as suggested by Hawking and others. The results also indicate that macroscopic systems tend to be found in states with ∆x∆p = ¯h / √ 2, but microscopic systems in highly tiltedly squeezed states with ∆x∆p ≫ ¯h.Some experimental implications of the recent progress on wave function collapse are calculated. Exact results are derived for the center-of-mass wave function collapse caused by random scatterings and applied to a range of specific examples. The results show that recently proposed experiments to measure the GRW effect are likely to fail, since the effect of naturally occurring scatterings is of the same form as the GRW effect but generally much stronger. The same goes for attempts to measure the collapse caused by quantum gravity as suggested by Hawking and others. The results also indicate that macroscopic systems tend to be found in states with ∆x∆p = ¯h / √ 2, but microscopic systems in highly tiltedly squeezed states with ∆x∆p ≫ ¯h.

Jan 1, 1993100 citations

Wave Function Collapse

Dion Fryson

Aug 9, 20250 citations

Wave Function Collapse

Ion-Olimpiu Stamatescu

Compendium of Quantum PhysicsJan 1, 200916 citations

Quantum Zeno effect

Wayne M. Itano, Daniel J. Heinzen, J. J. Bollinger +1 more

The quantum Zero effect is the inhibition of transitions between quantum states by frequent measurements of the state. The inhibition arises because the measurement causes a collapse (reduction) of the wave function. If the time between measurements is short enough, the wave function usually collapses back to the initial state. We have observed this effect in an rf transition between two $^{9}$ ${\mathrm{Be}}^{+}$ ground-state hyperfine levels. The ions were confined in a Penning trap and laser cooled. Short pulses of light, applied at the same time as the rf field, made the measurements. If an ion was in one state, it scattered a few photons; if it was in the other, it scattered no photons. In the latter case the wave-function collapse was due to a null measurement. Good agreement was found with calculations.The quantum Zero effect is the inhibition of transitions between quantum states by frequent measurements of the state. The inhibition arises because the measurement causes a collapse (reduction) of the wave function. If the time between measurements is short enough, the wave function usually collapses back to the initial state. We have observed this effect in an rf transition between two $^{9}$${\mathrm{Be}}^{+}$ ground-state hyperfine levels. The ions were confined in a Penning trap and laser cooled. Short pulses of light, applied at the same time as the rf field, made the measurements. If an ion was in one state, it scattered a few photons; if it was in the other, it scattered no photons. In the latter case the wave-function collapse was due to a null measurement. Good agreement was found with calculations.

Physical Review AMar 1, 19901,185 citations

Comments on the Entropy of the Wave Function Collapse

Armando V.D.B. Assis

Academically, among students, an apparent paradox may arise when one tries to interpret the second law of thermodynamics within the context of the quantum mechanical wave function collapse. This is so because a quantum mechanical system suddenly seems to undergo, from a less restrictive state constructed from a superposition of eigenstates of a given operator, to a more restrictive state: the collapsed state. This paper is intended to show how this picture turns out to be a misconception and, albeit briefly, furtherly discuss the scope of Max Born’s probabilistic interpretation within the second law of thermodynamics.Academically, among students, an apparent paradox may arise when one tries to interpret the second law of thermodynamics within the context of the quantum mechanical wave function collapse. This is so because a quantum mechanical system suddenly seems to undergo, from a less restrictive state constructed from a superposition of eigenstates of a given operator, to a more restrictive state: the collapsed state. This paper is intended to show how this picture turns out to be a misconception and, albeit briefly, furtherly discuss the scope of Max Born’s probabilistic interpretation within the second law of thermodynamics.

Jun 1, 20110 citations

The collapse of the wave function

Carl Frederick

Foundations of PhysicsOct 1, 19761 citation

^{9}

{\mathrm{Be}}^{+}

ground-state hyperfine levels. The ions were confined in a Penning trap and laser cooled. Short pulses of light, applied at the same time as the rf field, made the measurements. If an ion was in one state, it scattered a few photons; if it was in the other, it scattered no photons. In the latter case the wave-function collapse was due to a null measurement. Good agreement was found with calculations.