State/wave function after measurement?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter z00maffect
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Function Measurement
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
z00maffect
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
If i already know the wave function then measure an observable what is the new wave function?

Is it just the eigenfunction of the observable corresponding to the measured value?

And does it stay in this state until something interacts with it?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
z00maffect said:
If i already know the wave function then measure an observable what is the new wave function? Is it just the eigenfunction of the observable corresponding to the measured value?
Yes, at least according to the simplest measurement model.

z00maffect said:
And does it stay in this state until something interacts with it?
No, it evolves according the the Schrödinger equation with this state as the initial condition.
 
ahh yes of course, much thanks