scholarly journals The Quantum Mechanics <i>Needs</i> the Principle of Wave-Function Collapse—But This Principle Shouldn’t Be <i>Misunderstood</i>

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
pp. 42-63
Author(s):  
Sofia D. Wechsler
2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (01n03) ◽  
pp. 1345013 ◽  
Author(s):  
MILTON A. DA SILVA ◽  
ROBERTO M. SERRA ◽  
LUCAS C. CÉLERI

We analyze the wave function collapse as seen by two distinct observers (with identical detectors) in relative motion. Imposing that the measurement process demands information transfer from the system to the detectors, we note that although different observers will acquire different amount of information from their measurements due to correlations between spin and momentum variables, all of them will agree about the orthogonality of the outcomes, as defined by their own reference frame. So, in this sense, such a quantum mechanical postulate is observer invariant, however the effective efficiency of the measurement process differs for each observer.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 155-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
RODERICH TUMULKA

The Ghirardi–Rimini–Weber (GRW) theory is a physical theory that, when combined with a suitable ontology, provides an explanation of quantum mechanics. The so-called collapse of the wave function is problematic in conventional quantum theory but not in the GRW theory, in which it is governed by a stochastic law. A possible ontology is the flash ontology, according to which matter consists of random points in space-time, called flashes. The joint distribution of these points, a point process in space-time, is the topic of this work. The mathematical results concern mainly the existence and uniqueness of this distribution for several variants of the theory. Particular attention is paid to the relativistic version of the GRW theory that was developed in 2004.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 6039-6055
Author(s):  
Antonio Puccini

We learn from Quantum Mechanics that the observation of the microscopic world, the measurement (M) of a quantum object, i.e. a particle, inexorably modifies the physical system we wish to examine. What happens is that with the M it takes place a reduction of the state vectors, that is the ‘wave function collapse’ of the measured particle. Why does it happen? No one knows. The enigma of the so-called Measurement Paradox, in our opinion, could be solved if we considered that the light quantum(LQ), as suggested by the Principle of Equivalence Mass-Energy, carries out a dynamic-mass equivalent to its energy. The LQ is indispensable to carry out a M.  No M can be carried out without using the quantum of light. Calculus show that a photon of the optic band hits an electron with a momentum bigger than the mass of the electron itself. This may explain why the M induces the implosion of the quantum object observed, together with the collapse of its wave function, giving rise to the Measurement Paradox.


1993 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
DT Pegg

Wave function collapse has been a contentious concept in quantum mechanics for a considerable time. Here we show examples of how the concept can be used to advantage in predicting the statistical results of three experiments in atomic physics and quantum optics: photon antibunching, single-photon phase difference states and interrupted single-atom fluorescence. We examine the question of whether or not collapse is 'really' a physical process, and discuss the consequences of simply omitting it but including the observer as a part of the overall system governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. The resulting entangled world does not appear to be inconsistent with experience.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1916-1922
Author(s):  
Jeffrey H Boyd

Wave particle duality is a mistake. Another option was neither conceived nor debated, which is a better foundation for quantum mechanics. The Theory of Elementary Waves (TEW) is based on the idea that particles follow zero energy waves backwards. A particle cannot be identical with its wave if they travel in opposite directions. TEW is the only form of local realism that is consistent with the results of the experiment by Aspect, Dalibard and Roger (1982). Here we show that 1. although QM teaches that complementarity in a double slit experiment cannot be logically explained, TEW explains it logically, without wave function collapse, and 2. gives an unconventional explanation of the Davisson Germer experiment. 3. There is empirical evidence for countervailing waves and particles and 4. zero energy waves. 5. TEW clarifies our understanding of probability amplitudes and supports quantum math. 6. There is an untested experiment for which TEW and wave particle duality predict different outcomes. If TEW is valid, then wave particle duality is not necessary for quantum math, which is the most accurate and productive science ever. With a more solid foundation, new vistas of science open, such as the study of elementary waves.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 4731-4734
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Boyd

Is science open to a new idea? Thomas Kuhn says paradigm shifts sound like gibberish to scientificleaders, and are rejected for that reason. The Theory of Elementary Waves (TEW) is such an idea:quantum particles follow waves moving in the opposite direction. Time always goes forwards. Wefocus on Paul Dirac’s 1930 book The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, applied to TEW. We keepDirac notation and quantum math but replace the picture of how nature is organized. Waveinterference and probabilistic effects occur prior to particle emission. Wave function collapse occursat emission & there is no further interference. We have launched a successful program of teachingthis form of physics in the format of YouTube music videos of five minutes duration. Some of ourvideos have been watched 40,000 times: within YouTube search for “Jeffrey H Boyd” to watch theseamusing videos including one in which Yoda (from Star Wars) solves what Richard Feynman calledthe “Fundamental Mystery of Quantum Mechanics.”


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1230014 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN D. H. HSU

I give a brief introduction to many worlds or "no wave function collapse" quantum mechanics, suitable for non-specialists. I then discuss the origin of probability in such formulations, distinguishing between objective and subjective notions of probability.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 871-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pang Xiao Feng

We establish the nonlinear quantum mechanics due to difficulties and problems of original quantum mechanics, in which microscopic particles have only a wave feature, not corpuscle feature, which are completely not consistent with experimental results and traditional concept of particle. In this theory the microscopic particles are no longer a wave, but localized and have a wave-corpuscle duality, which are represented by the following facts, the solutions of dynamic equation describing the particles have a wave-corpuscle duality, namely it consists of a mass center with constant size and carrier wave, is localized and stable and has a determinant mass, momentum and energy, which obey also generally conservation laws of motion, their motions meet both the Hamilton equation, Euler-Lagrange equation and Newton-type equation, their collision satisfies also the classical rule of collision of macroscopic particles, the uncertainty of their position and momentum is denoted by the minimum principle of uncertainty. Meanwhile the microscopic particles in this theory can both propagate in solitary wave with certain frequency and amplitude and generate reflection and transmission at the interfaces, thus they have also a wave feature, which but are different from linear and KdV solitary wave’s. Therefore the nonlinear quantum mechanics changes thoroughly the natures of microscopic particles due to the nonlinear interactions. In this investigation we gave systematically and completely the distinctions and variations between linear and nonlinear quantum mechanics, including the significances and representations of wave function and mechanical quantities, superposition principle of wave function, property of microscopic particle, eigenvalue problem, uncertainty relation and the methods solving the dynamic equations, from which we found nonlinear quantum mechanics is fully new and different from linear quantum mechanics. Finally, we verify further the correctness of properties of microscopic particles described by nonlinear quantum mechanics using the experimental results of light soliton in fiber and water soliton, which are described by same nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Thus we affirm that nonlinear quantum mechanics is correct and useful, it can be used to study the real properties of microscopic particles in physical systems.


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