Understanding the Quantum Measurement Problem in the Copenhagen Interpretation

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In summary, Landau states that the results of measurements in quantum mechanics cannot be reproduced due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. This is because even if the experiment is set up in exactly the same way, the results will not be identical. Advocates of the Copenhagen Interpretation attribute this to the randomness of the "wave collapse" and argue that it has no physical meaning.
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alanzhu
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In page 23 of Landau's "Quantum Mechanis", he said:"The results of measurements in quantum mechanics cannot be reproduced."what's this means?
 
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Fairly obvious isn't it? Since, by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, you can never set up the experiment in exactly the same way, you cannot guarantee exactly the same results.

Advocates of the Copenhagen Interpretation would say that result of the "wave collapse" is random so that even if you could set up exactly the same conditions, you would not get exactly the same results.
 
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Advocates of the Copenhagen Interpretation would say that result of the "wave collapse" is random so that even if you could set up exactly the same conditions, you would not get exactly the same results.

No, I'm an advocate of the Copenhagen Interpretation, and I'd say that the so called "wave collapse" had no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of the measurement. It is nothing other than a method to predict odds of what could happen in a measurement. Nothing more .. certainly nothing with a physical meaning, or "result". Its "collapse" means nothing other than it has no predictive power anymore.
 

What is the quantum measurement problem?

The quantum measurement problem refers to the discrepancy between the predictions of quantum mechanics and our everyday experience of the world. It raises questions about how and why quantum particles behave differently when observed or measured compared to when they are not observed.

Why is the quantum measurement problem important?

The quantum measurement problem is important because it challenges our understanding of reality and the fundamental laws of physics. It also has practical implications for fields such as quantum computing and quantum communication.

How do scientists currently explain the quantum measurement problem?

There is no consensus among scientists on a single explanation for the quantum measurement problem. Some theories, such as the Copenhagen interpretation, suggest that the act of measurement causes the collapse of the wave function and determines the outcome of an observation. Others, such as the many-worlds interpretation, propose that all possible outcomes of a measurement exist simultaneously in parallel universes.

What are some proposed solutions to the quantum measurement problem?

Some proposed solutions to the quantum measurement problem include the De Broglie-Bohm theory, which suggests that particles have hidden variables that determine their behavior, and the consistent histories approach, which seeks to explain measurement outcomes by considering the entire history of a system. Other solutions involve modifying the existing laws of quantum mechanics or introducing new laws.

How does the quantum measurement problem relate to other areas of physics?

The quantum measurement problem is closely related to other areas of physics, such as the nature of consciousness, the role of the observer in science, and the search for a theory of everything. It also has connections to other fields, such as philosophy and metaphysics, as it raises fundamental questions about the nature of reality and our understanding of the universe.

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