How can a local interaction affect different parts of an atom?

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absolutegod
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how a local interaction coordinate response of spatically separated parts of atom ?
Quantum mechanics says interection coordinate response of atom.

But atom parts i.e electron and nucleus are spatically separated.

However it is treated as one quantum system but been one quantum system doesn't make their distance in between 0.

So, how a local interaction coordinate response of spatically separated parts of atom ?
This is not a homework it is a personal question
 
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You are describing non-relativistic quantum mechanics, the only kind you’ll encounter unless and until you’re well on the way to an advanced degree in physics.

The way NRQM works, we describe the initial state of the entire quantum system with the wave function, the wave function evolves over time according to Schrodinger’s equation, we can calculate the probability of getting various measurement results from the wave function. But that’s all we have, the theory tells us nothing about what the various particles are doing or how they’re interacting.
 
Nugatory said:
You are describing non-relativistic quantum mechanics, the only kind you’ll encounter unless and until you’re well on the way to an advanced degree in physics.

The way NRQM works, we describe the initial state of the entire quantum system with the wave function, the wave function evolves over time according to Schrodinger’s equation, we can calculate the probability of getting various measurement results from the wave function. But that’s all we have, the theory tells us nothing about what the various particles are doing or how they’re interacting.
But I am not saying about wavefuction or outcome .

Want to know,
a photon interacted with atom on electron .

And there is distance between electron and nucleus .

So why will nucleus also response? as there is nothing to make it respond
 
The interactions are described by local field theory. The change at one place creates a local change in the field, after which this change propagates to other places through the field. The speed of propagation does not exceed the speed of light.
 
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absolutegod said:
But I am not saying about wavefuction
You cannot avoid wavefunctions. When you are talking about QM, wavefunctions will necessarily be involved.

absolutegod said:
So why will nucleus also response?
The wavefunction is spread out over space. Generally it will be non-zero in both the region of the electron and the nucleus. Both will therefore respond to the wavefunction according to the usual QM rules.
 
Demystifier said:
The interactions are described by local field theory. The change at one place creates a local change in the field, after which this change propagates to other places through the field. The speed of propagation does not exceed the speed of light
Thank you for answer

But my question is not about result or outcome

It is about :
How a local interaction at electron coordinate response of spatically separated nucleus during photon interaction.
 
Dale said:
You cannot avoid wavefunctions. When you are talking about QM, wavefunctions will necessarily be involved.

The wavefunction is spread out over space. Generally it will be non-zero in both the region of the electron and the nucleus. Both will therefore respond to the wavefunction according to the usual QM rules.
If wavefuction is spread all over continuously .
then how we can say atom is in supper position?

As wavefuction is continuously present and acting on it. Somthing like this interaction also do .

And if atom can be in superposition when wavefuction is present .

How will wavefuction coordinate it to become measurable from supper position ?
 
absolutegod said:
If wavefuction is spread all over continuously .
then how we can say atom is in supper position?
In what way is there any conflict between a wavefunction being spread out and an atom being in superposition?

absolutegod said:
How will wavefuction coordinate it to become measurable from supper position ?
Again, what is the supposed conflict between superposition and the wavefunction?

There simply isn’t any conflict between them as far as I know, and I cannot guess why you think there might be. Please explain.
 
Dale said:
In what way is there any conflict between a wavefunction being spread out and an atom being in superposition?

Again, what is the supposed conflict between superposition and the wavefunction?

There simply isn’t any conflict between them as far as I know, and I cannot guess why you think there might be. Please explain.
Conflict is
above you said wavefuction coordinate response.

And wavefuction is spread everywhere all time .

So, if it cordinate response then how atom can be in superposition when it is present ?

And if suppose it can then how it cordinate response? as it can be in supper position when wavefuction is present .

So how will wavefuction do this
 
absolutegod said:
So, if it cordinate response then how atom can be in superposition when it is present ?

An interaction does not necessarily cause a wavefunction to collapse into a definite state. Interactions can produce entanglement with the environment, potentially leading to decoherence. Measurements can also be partial or weak, extracting limited state information without completely resolving a superposition. How much coherence is lost depends on how distinguishable the superposed states become through these interactions.

absolutegod said:
And if suppose it can then how it cordinate response? as it can be in supper position when wavefuction is present .
The wavefunction describes the quantum state. The electron and nucleus interact electromagnetically, but these interactions do not automatically constitute measurements or destroy quantum superposition.
 
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absolutegod said:
So, if it cordinate response then how atom can be in superposition when it is present ?
I still don't understand why you think there is a conflict here. What is it about coordinating a response that would prevent an atom from being in superposition? Please don't repeat the question, explain why you think there is a conflict between the two facts. Explain what it is about superposition that would be at all compromised by the wavefunction.
 
Dale said:
I still don't understand why you think there is a conflict here. What is it about coordinating a response that would prevent an atom from being in superposition? Please don't repeat the question, explain why you think there is a conflict between the two facts. Explain what it is about superposition that would be at all compromised by the wavefunction.
Wavefuction is present everytime .

And quantum physics says interection cause atom to become measurable

Think apart from fact that it is proven physics.

And you answered my question how can a local interaction coordinate response of spatically separated parts of atom?
That wavefuction do this

So at one time you are saying that it cause atom to become measurable and on second you are saying it is all time present .

So how will atom be in superposition.

Just think about it without thinking it is correct because it is already proven.
 
absolutegod said:
Just think about it
That is completely unproductive. "Just think about it" is not an explanation. No amount of me thinking about it will explain your reasoning.

absolutegod said:
you are saying that it cause atom to become measurable
I never said that.

I will make one more attempt, and if you do not explain your reasoning then this thread will be closed.

The nucleus has a wavefunction. The photon has a wavefunction. The electrons have wavefunctions. All of those wavefunctions are fields so they extend over spacetime. Superposition means that a wavefunction is a vector, and so wavefunction vectors can be expressed as a linear combination of basis wavefunctions. So, any of those wavefunctions may be in superposition at any time, before during and after any interaction. The fact that each wavefunction extends over spacetime in no way prevents it from being in superposition, they are unrelated facts. The first (extending over spacetime) comes from the wavefunction being a field and the second (superposition) comes from the wavefunction being a vector. Wavefunctions are both fields and vectors.

So, please explain what about that do you not understand? What makes you believe that there is any conflict between being a wavefunction and being in superposition. Or equivalently, what makes you believe that fields cannot be vectors.