Can Superposition and Wavefunction Collapse be Visually Demonstrated?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter kyoto
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Collapse Superposition
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 2K views
kyoto
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hello, I need a help for making a short visual presentation of superposition and wavefunction collapse. It will be a power-point presentation for young students.

I have an idea to show a superposition as a "perfect noise", which can be visually achieved as a uniform gray background or total blur (no difference between pixels value).

But what happens when we make a measurement?

I have an idea to show it as kind of spotlight ring (measurement) "lit" onto this uniform backround, disturbing the superposition, so the noise appears in the ring. In this noise each pixel value is different, which would show the state pinned down during measurement. How would you show this subject in a simplest way possible?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
A great way to demonstrate this visually would be to start with a blank slide containing just the uniform gray background. Then, gradually, add a spotlight effect to the slide, using a radial gradient which increases in intensity from the center outwards. This will demonstrate the measurement process, and how it causes the wavefunction to collapse. You could also add a layer of text above the slide to explain the concept of superposition and wavefunction collapse. Finally, you could add a few animations to show how the noise appears within the spotlight ring, demonstrating that each pixel value is different. This should help to make the concept easier for young students to understand.