Is the collapse of a wave function deterministic or random?

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The discussion centers on whether the collapse of a wave function in quantum mechanics is deterministic or random. It distinguishes between deterministic predictions, where knowing the wave function allows for precise outcomes, and random predictions, where outcomes can only be probabilistically inferred. The implications of Bell's theorem are highlighted, indicating that particles do not have definite positions before measurement, complicating the idea of deterministic collapse. The conversation also touches on the role of measurement instruments and the nature of wave function evolution, emphasizing that interpretations of quantum mechanics significantly influence these questions. Ultimately, the nature of wave function collapse remains a matter of interpretation within the framework of quantum mechanics.
  • #31
Happiness said:
But if there is no collapse, then the different eigenstates superimpose and produce an interference pattern (say, of a double-slits experiment). If the wave function collapses to a single eigenstate, then the interference pattern is destroyed. So the final result is different.
It would mean that you're in a superposition of conscious states. How would you know that? Is there any experiment that can differentiate when the collapse occurs? The apparent lack of self-eating cat suggests that many possibilities are lost as the wave function involves more and more of the macroscopic world. But even that does not suggest that a full collapse ever happens.
 

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