- #1
Derek M
New to physics and attempting to get my feet wet reading "The Quantum Universe: Everything That Can Happen Does Happen" by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw. Looking to get some clarification on what I hope is a simple concept regarding a particle in motion.
The author introduces the use of "clocks" to represent the magnitude and phase of a particles wave function. Shown below is a figure from the book showing a cluster of clocks corresponding to a particle that is initially located within the clusters vicinity. The author states that as each clock in the cluster makes its way to X, it is wound forward. Due to the way each clock has been wound backwards relative to its position in the original cluster, every clock that reaches X has its clock hand pointing in exactly the same direction. They all add together constructively which represents a high probability of finding the particle at X.
This part I understand. My confusion is when the author suggests that the clocks only add together constructively at all points left of X for a distance equal to the length of the original cluster. Outside of that region the clocks largely cancel out. When I picture in my head the clocks winding forward as they move to a point anywhere between the original cluster and X it seems to me that they add together constructively no matter where that point my be.
I hope I have explained my problem well enough and appreciate any insight into where I might be failing to grasp the concept.
Thanks!
The author introduces the use of "clocks" to represent the magnitude and phase of a particles wave function. Shown below is a figure from the book showing a cluster of clocks corresponding to a particle that is initially located within the clusters vicinity. The author states that as each clock in the cluster makes its way to X, it is wound forward. Due to the way each clock has been wound backwards relative to its position in the original cluster, every clock that reaches X has its clock hand pointing in exactly the same direction. They all add together constructively which represents a high probability of finding the particle at X.
This part I understand. My confusion is when the author suggests that the clocks only add together constructively at all points left of X for a distance equal to the length of the original cluster. Outside of that region the clocks largely cancel out. When I picture in my head the clocks winding forward as they move to a point anywhere between the original cluster and X it seems to me that they add together constructively no matter where that point my be.
I hope I have explained my problem well enough and appreciate any insight into where I might be failing to grasp the concept.
Thanks!