Wavefunction collaps past/future effect

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of wavefunction collapse and its implications in quantum mechanics. It is mentioned that the collapse is a controversial topic and interpretations differ on whether it is a real phenomenon or just an approximation. Some interpretations suggest the use of hidden variables to explain the collapse, while others do not incorporate it in their formalism. There is currently no experimental evidence that favors any of the interpretations.
  • #1
batmanmg
2
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Wavefunction "collaps" past/future effect

A newb writes,

Do wavefunctions really "collapse?" It seems like this implies that they are destroyed and then recreated. Would it be more accurate to consider them like a guitar string and that observing it is like hitting the harmonic?

I guess another way to put this question would be to ask, Does a wavefunction's past effect its future once a certain observation has made it "collapse" and "reform"?

Wave Function

_______wave's past_________observation___Future
.-------------^------------------. V .--------^-------.
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~~~|
^_____________________________.^.
Neck_______________________The harmonic
Guitar String
 
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  • #2
My poiny of view:
1. QM equations give us the probabilities about something. And are the best ones that we have to describe that ultra-micro world.
2. "observations" give us measures about what happen.
3. Between two measures we simple doesn't know how the ultra-micro world is or behave.
To now more, you can see the following thread:
Can future events affect the past?
 
  • #3
In the standard interpretation, wave function "really" do collapse, but we don't know whether the wave function is real, so we don't know whether the wave function really collapses.

It is often said that the collapse is just analogous to the transition from uncertainty to certainty when one throws a die and gets a result. However, this is difficult to make precise in the standard interpretation, because quantum uncertainty without hidden variables is not uncertainty about reality, since the wave function is not necessarily real.

However, in some cases, eg. non-relativistic quantum mechanics, we can imagine that there are hidden variables. In this case, quantum mechanics is very much like a classical theory, just a bit unusual in its nonlocality. In this case, one can derive the wave function collapse as an effective approximation to a reality in which there is no wave function collapse. Bohmian Mechanics is an example of this sort of hidden variable theory. At present we don't know if it can be extended to cover all relativistic quantum phenomena.

Another sort of hidden variable theory postulates that the collapse is real. Example of this sort of hidden variable theory are the GRW and continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) theories.

At present, we have no experimental evidence favouring any of the hidden variable theories.
 
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  • #4
batmanmg said:
Do wavefunctions really "collapse?"

In interpretations that have collapse - yes. But not all interpretations do. The formalism that all interpretations use doesn't have it.

Thanks
Bill
 

What is the wavefunction collapse past/future effect?

The wavefunction collapse past/future effect is a concept in quantum mechanics that suggests that the act of observing or measuring a particle can change its past and future states. This idea is based on the principle that particles exist in all possible states until they are observed, at which point the wavefunction collapses and the particle takes on a definite state.

How does the wavefunction collapse past/future effect work?

The exact mechanism of how the wavefunction collapse past/future effect works is still a topic of debate among scientists. Some theories suggest that the observer's consciousness plays a role in the collapse, while others propose that it is caused by interactions with the environment or other particles.

What evidence supports the existence of the wavefunction collapse past/future effect?

There have been numerous experiments that provide evidence for the wavefunction collapse past/future effect. One of the most famous is the double-slit experiment, which demonstrates the wave-particle duality of particles and how the act of observing them can affect their behavior. Other experiments, such as the delayed-choice quantum eraser, also support the idea of the wavefunction collapse past/future effect.

What are the implications of the wavefunction collapse past/future effect?

The wavefunction collapse past/future effect has profound implications for our understanding of reality and the nature of time. It suggests that the past and future are not fixed, but rather are constantly being influenced by our observations and interactions. This challenges our traditional notions of causality and suggests a more interconnected and fluid view of the universe.

Can the wavefunction collapse past/future effect be harnessed for practical applications?

While the wavefunction collapse past/future effect is a well-established concept in quantum mechanics, it has not yet been harnessed for any practical applications. However, some scientists are exploring the potential of using quantum effects for quantum computing and communication, which could have significant technological advancements in the future.

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