Appropriate Concepts in the Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

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The discussion highlights the inadequacy of classical concepts like position and momentum when applied to quantum mechanics, arguing that these terms are misleading as they suggest a similarity to classical interpretations. It emphasizes that in the quantum domain, these concepts are idealizations and should not be treated as fundamental, leading to confusion and the illusion of counterintuitiveness. The analogy with special relativity illustrates how classical notions can be approximations of more fundamental entities, suggesting a need for a similar framework in quantum mechanics. Participants express curiosity about whether there exists a more appropriate conceptual framework for quantum mechanics that avoids the pitfalls of classical terminology. The conversation ultimately raises questions about the nature of measurement and the observer's role in quantum mechanics, indicating ongoing challenges in reconciling classical and quantum views.
  • #31
It should be clear that the atoms/molecules in the ball are in a bound state. If you use a spherical well coinciding with the ball, then you are virtually home free in determining the wave function -- forget atom-atom interactions. A crude model to be sure, but it will capture the basic structure of the interior and provide a physically reasonable wave function.
Regards,
Reilly Atkinson


lightarrow said:
Sorry, I was probably not clear, I didn't mean to compare the ball's dimension with the wavepacket's spreading; I simply intended to ask how to describe the wavepacket of a macroscopic classical object like that ball; I didn't intentionally use the word "macroscopic" or "classical" just because there exists many macroscopic systems which have a quantistic behaviour and microscopic systems which have a classical one.
 

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