Does measurement change the energy of a system?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impact of measurement on the energy of a quantum system, specifically addressing how measuring a particle's energy and position alters its state vector. When the energy of a particle is initially measured as ##E_1##, the state vector becomes the energy eigenket ##|E_1>##. Subsequent measurement of the particle's position transitions the state to the position eigenket ##|x>##, which is distinct from ##|E_1>##. This change implies that re-measuring energy may yield a different value, raising questions about energy conservation and the implications of measurement in quantum mechanics.

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  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles, particularly state vectors and eigenkets.
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  • Knowledge of non-commutative operators and their implications in measurement theory.
  • Basic concepts of kinetic energy and momentum in quantum mechanics.
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Quantum physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and researchers interested in the implications of measurement on energy conservation in quantum systems.

arpon
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Suppose, the energy of a particle is measured, say ##E_1##. So now the state vector of the particle is the energy eigenket ##|E_1>##.
Then the position of the particle is measured, say ##x##. As the Hamiltonian operator and the position operator are non-commutative, the state vector is changed to the position eigenket ##|x>## which is different from ##|E_1>##.
Now the energy is measured again. As the state vector is no longer ##|E_1>##, it is not guaranteed that the energy is still ##E_1## as the first measurement.
Does the measurement change the amount of energy of the system? How doesn't this violate the law of energy conservation?
 
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arpon said:
Does the measurement change the amount of energy of the system? How doesn't this violate the law of energy conservation?

Even classically this happens. If you pick up an object and put it on a table to measure it with a ruler, haven't you changed its energy?
 
arpon said:
Suppose, the energy of a particle is measured, say ##E_1##. So now the state vector of the particle is the energy eigenket ##|E_1>##.
Then the position of the particle is measured, say ##x##. As the Hamiltonian operator and the position operator are non-commutative, the state vector is changed to the position eigenket ##|x>## which is different from ##|E_1>##.
Now the energy is measured again. As the state vector is no longer ##|E_1>##, it is not guaranteed that the energy is still ##E_1## as the first measurement.
Does the measurement change the amount of energy of the system? How doesn't this violate the law of energy conservation?

You can make the kinetic energy expectation value of a free particle arbitrarily large by just measuring its position accurately enough. This is because a perfectly localized particle can have any momentum with equal probability. There's no way to measure a position without interacting with the particle, and the more precise you want to make the measurement, the higher energy scattering processes are required.
 
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