Does the wave function shorten when approaching light speed?

In summary, when approaching the speed of light, objects appear to shorten exponentially relative to the observer. However, this rule does not apply to the wave function as it is not an object that moves in space. The same can be said for massless particles like photons. Reconciling quantum mechanics and relativity involves more than just adjusting the concept of the wave function, as seen in Mark Srednicki's QFT textbook.
  • #1
KBon
Relative to the observer, objects shorten when approaching the speed of light exponentially. Does this rule also apply to the wave function? Does this rule also apply to massless particles like Photons?

Or am I just simply forgetting something?
 
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  • #2
Wave function is not an object that move in space, so the answear is: no. With photons: can you rephrase your question? It doesn't make much sense. But I guess the answear will still be no:wink:
 
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  • #3
There's a lot more to reconciling quantum mechanics and relativity than just tweaking your notion of the wave function. You can get a sense of just how much more from something like the first chapter of Mark Srednicki's QFT textbook; a free publicly available draft is linked from https://web.physics.ucsb.edu/~mark/qft.html (I'm not recommending this one because it's better or worse than any other, it just happens to available free online without violating any copyrights).
 
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1. How does Einstein's theory of relativity affect the concept of the wave function shortening at light speed?

Einstein's theory of relativity states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion. This means that no matter how fast an object is moving, the laws of physics remain constant. Therefore, the concept of the wave function shortening at light speed is not affected by Einstein's theory of relativity. The wave function will still behave in the same way regardless of the observer's frame of reference.

2. Can the wave function actually shorten when approaching light speed?

No, the wave function does not physically shorten when approaching light speed. The concept of the wave function shortening at light speed is a mathematical interpretation based on the principles of special relativity. It is a theoretical concept used to explain the behavior of particles at high speeds, but it does not have a physical manifestation.

3. Does the wave function shortening at light speed violate the laws of physics?

No, the wave function shortening at light speed does not violate any laws of physics. It is a consequence of the principles of special relativity and is consistent with the laws of quantum mechanics. However, it may seem counterintuitive as it goes against our everyday experiences and observations.

4. Can the wave function shortening at light speed be observed or measured?

No, the wave function shortening at light speed cannot be directly observed or measured. It is a theoretical concept that is used to make calculations and predictions about the behavior of particles at high speeds. However, its effects can be indirectly observed through experiments and observations of particles traveling at near-light speeds.

5. How does the wave function behave at light speed?

At light speed, the wave function becomes undefined. This is because the equations used to describe the behavior of the wave function break down at this speed. This is due to the fact that at light speed, the mass and energy of a particle become infinite, making it impossible to accurately predict its behavior. Therefore, the wave function can no longer be used to describe the behavior of particles at this speed.

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