"Observation" in quantum mechanics is a rather nonspecific word which means measurement and/or interaction with a measurement device or some other system. That is, the word observation does not imply human observation.Sciencelad2798 said:Summary:: Does the wavefunction collapse when looked at?
Do wavefunctions collapse when looked at? Or does observe mean something else?
Ohhhhh thank you. But how does measurement cause this collapse?DennisN said:"Observation" in quantum mechanics is a rather nonspecific word which means measurement and/or interaction with a measurement device or some other system. That is, the word observation does not imply human observation.
The question of wave function collapse is an interpretational issue. Some interpretations of Quantum Mechanics have wave function collapse, others don't. The "Consciousness causes collapse" interpretation (von Neumann–Wigner interpretation) is only one interpretation of many.
That article is not a source from which you can learn QM. It's pure journalism.Sciencelad2798 said:Summary:: Does the wavefunction collapse when looked at?
Do wavefunctions collapse when looked at? Or does observe mean something else?
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05892-6
This article is where my information is from, physicists talking about how our mind causes the collapse.
Wave function collapse is not universally embraced as actually happening. As I said, different interpretations have different views on this. How/why we get single outcomes in measurements is a million dollar question which has been heavily debated throughout the years. Two concepts I suggest searching for and reading about is "measurement problem in quantum mechanics" and also "quantum decoherence".Sciencelad2798 said:But how does measurement cause this collapse?
It depends on which interpretation of QM you are using. So while you have posted this question in the right forum (the QM interpretations forum), that very fact should alert you that there is not one "right" answer to your question.Sciencelad2798 said:Do wavefunctions collapse when looked at?
Metaphysical claims that one way or another posit or hypothesize that the world could be or is virtual cannot be falsified and thus do not dwell in the realm of science.Sciencelad2798 said:This article is where my information is from, physicists talking about how our mind causes the collapse.
It doesn't; there is no collapse in the pilot wave interpretation.kurt101 said:How does the pilot wave interpretation describe what happens in the EPR and double slit experiment in terms of collapse?
I had this question about the double slit theory i was hoping you might be able to answer: if we fire single particles at the slits surely we aim them at the central block rather than at one slit or other right? If so then the expectation should be no pattern at all as should hit the central block. However actually goes through one or other slit, this must mean the single particle is bending its path once decides which slit to go through. Surely it is just as amazing that the particle decides to veer off a straight line as the overall result of the pattern made?PeterDonis said:It doesn't; there is no collapse in the pilot wave interpretation.
We aren't aiming the particles precisely enough for that. The whole point of the double slit experiment is that, while the direction the particles are traveling is very well controlled (they are all moving towards the barrier with the slits in it), the position of the particles is not; the uncertainty in the particles' position is significantly larger than the spacing between the slits. (The tradeoff involved here is unavoidable because of the uncertainty principle.)Sciencelad2798 said:if we fire single particles at the slits surely we aim them at the central block rather than at one slit or other right?
The double slit experiment is a classic physics experiment that involves shining a beam of particles or waves through two parallel slits and observing the resulting pattern on a screen. It is used to study the behavior of particles and waves, and has been a key experiment in understanding the nature of light and matter.
In the double slit experiment, when particles or waves are observed as they pass through the slits, they behave like particles and create a pattern of two distinct bands on the screen. However, when they are not observed, they behave like waves and create an interference pattern of multiple bands. This is known as the collapse of the wave function, where the act of observation causes the particles or waves to behave differently.
The double slit experiment challenges our understanding of reality by showing that the behavior of particles and waves is influenced by the act of observation. It suggests that reality may be fundamentally probabilistic and that our perception of it is shaped by our observation. This has implications for our understanding of quantum mechanics and the nature of consciousness.
Yes, the principles of the double slit experiment can be applied to other systems, including electrons, atoms, and even larger molecules. It has also been used to study the behavior of light in different mediums and has been applied in various fields such as biology, chemistry, and engineering.
The double slit experiment has significant implications for our understanding of the universe. It challenges traditional notions of causality and determinism, and suggests that the act of observation plays a crucial role in shaping reality. It also raises questions about the nature of consciousness and the role of the observer in the universe.