Understanding Wavefunction Collapse After Measurement

In summary, wavefunction collapse after measurement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the wavefunction of a system collapses into a specific state after it is measured. This occurs when a measurement is made on a quantum system, causing the wavefunction to interact with the measuring device and collapse into a definite state. The other possible states that the system could have been in are no longer accessible after wavefunction collapse, and it cannot be reversed. This has a significant impact on our understanding of reality and challenges our perception of existence at the quantum level.
  • #1
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 Schrodinger 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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  • #2
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 Schrodinger'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).
 
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  • #3
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 Schrodinger 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.
 

1. What is wavefunction collapse after measurement?

Wavefunction collapse after measurement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the wavefunction of a system collapses into a specific state after it is measured. This means that the system will no longer exist in a superposition of multiple states, but will instead be in a single definite state.

2. How does wavefunction collapse occur?

Wavefunction collapse occurs when a measurement is made on a quantum system. The act of measurement causes the system to interact with the measuring device, which results in the wavefunction collapsing into a specific state. This is known as the measurement problem in quantum mechanics.

3. What happens to the other possible states after wavefunction collapse?

After wavefunction collapse, the other possible states that the system could have been in are no longer accessible. They do not disappear or cease to exist, but they are simply no longer relevant to the observed state of the system. This is known as the "branching" or "many-worlds" interpretation of quantum mechanics.

4. Can wavefunction collapse be reversed?

No, wavefunction collapse cannot be reversed. Once a measurement is made and the wavefunction collapses, the system is in a definite state and it is not possible to return to a superposition of multiple states. This is one of the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics.

5. How does understanding wavefunction collapse after measurement impact our understanding of reality?

Understanding wavefunction collapse after measurement is crucial in our understanding of reality as it highlights the fundamental differences between classical and quantum systems. It also challenges our perception of reality and raises questions about the role of observation and the nature of existence at the quantum level.

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