Understanding Wavefunction Collapse After Measurement

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SUMMARY

After a measurement, a wavefunction collapses to a specific position, denoted as point C, with a probability of c². If a second measurement occurs immediately after the first, the probability of obtaining C is 100%. However, if there is a delay before the second measurement, the wavefunction evolves according to the Schrödinger equation, and the probability of obtaining C may vary. For measurements that commute with the Hamiltonian, the probability remains 100%, while for non-commuting measurements, the probability is not guaranteed to return to c².

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  • Understanding of wavefunction collapse in quantum mechanics
  • Familiarity with Schrödinger's equation
  • Knowledge of quantum measurement theory
  • Basic concepts of Hamiltonian mechanics
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  • Learn about the evolution of wavefunctions under Schrödinger's equation
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Students of quantum mechanics, physicists interested in measurement theory, and anyone seeking to understand the implications of wavefunction behavior post-measurement.

Waxterzz
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After a measurement a wavefunction collapses.

You measure the position of a particle, the particles assumes a definite position, let's say point C.

The coefficient of C is let's say c, so the probability that it takes that value is c²
Wavefunction collapses at C (actually in the vicinty of C ?)
A second measurement immediately after the first, you would have to yield C again. Because a physical experiment has to be reproducible.
So, immediately right after your collapse, you get C with a probability of 100% because it just collapsed.

My question is:

If you don't measure right immediately after your first measurement, the wavefunctions spreads out again, according to the original Schrödinger equation right?

If you perform the same measurement again on your particle, would it yield C again with probability 100% or c²Please make your answer as simple as possible. I don't want to be bothered with Quantum Decoherence or Bell's paradox or Dirac Brakets at this point right now.

First chapter Griffiths and I got some basic notions of QM, but not that much. :)
 
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Waxterzz said:
If you perform the same measurement again on your particle, would it yield C again with probability 100% or c²

For position, and anything else that doesn't commute with the Hamiltonian, the answer is "neither". The wave function evolves according to Schrödinger's equation starting from the initial post-measurement state, and there's no particular reason why that evolution should return it to the pre-measurement state in which the probability of getting C was ##|c^2|##.

For things that do commute with the Hamiltonian, you get C with probability 100%.

(Be aware that wave function collapse isn't necessarily something that really happens. It's an interpretation, one way of thinking about what the math is telling us. It's not the only way, and it's not everyone's favorite way. It does work really well for visualizing this particular situation though).
 
Last edited:
After a measurement a wavefunction collapses.
That depends on the interpretation.
Wavefunction collapses at C (actually in the vicinty of C ?)
At whatever your measurement gives. No position measurement is exact.
If you don't measure right immediately after your first measurement, the wavefunctions spreads out again, according to the original Schrödinger equation right?
Right.

If you perform the same measurement again on your particle, would it yield C again with probability 100% or c²
Without delay? Then 100%. With delay? Then it depends on the delay, the system and everything else - it depends on how the wavefunction evolves.
 

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