Square of wave function gives us the probability density

ahsaas · Oct 22, 2006

we often say that the square of wave function gives us the probability density where the particle is. how can the square of a function might predict about the existence of a particle?

Meir Achuz · Oct 23, 2006

Why not?

jtbell · Oct 23, 2006

ahsaas said:

how can the square of a function might predict about the existence of a particle?

It's a fundamental postulate of quantum mechanics, in the wave-mechanics formulation. and therefore has no further explanation. Its justification is the experimental verification of predictions derived from it and the other postulates of QM.

heliocentricprose · Oct 23, 2006

jtbell said:

It's a fundamental postulate of quantum mechanics, in the wave-mechanics formulation. and therefore has no further explanation. Its justification is the experimental verification of predictions derived from it and the other postulates of QM.

Is the uncertainty in the wave-function caused by our inability to measure the particles without affecting them?

jtbell · Oct 23, 2006

No. See message #5 in the following thread for a brief description of how the uncertainty principle arises:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=138352

Square of wave function gives us the probability density

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Square of wave function gives us the probability density

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