What is the Worldline of a Quantum Particle Before and After State Reduction?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of a worldline for a quantum particle and how it applies to the theory of general relativity. The participants conclude that because GR is a classical theory and quantum particles do not have worldlines, the question posed by the original poster cannot be answered.
  • #1
cube137
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In GR. What's the worldline of a quantum particle before and after it undergoes state reduction (before and after Born rule applied)?
 
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  • #2
GR is a classical theory. I'm not sure there's a good answer to your question, and I'm rather doubtful that a quantum particle can be represented as having a worldline at all. Consider the double-slit experiment, for example. A worldline would go through only one slit, the quantum particle goes through both.
 
  • #3
Pervect is correct, GR is a classical theory, not a quantum theory, and quantum particles do not have worldlines. That means the OP question is not well posed and cannot be answered.

Thread closed.
 
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Related to What is the Worldline of a Quantum Particle Before and After State Reduction?

1. What are worldlines in the context of General Relativity (GR)?

Worldlines are paths traced by particles moving through spacetime in the theory of General Relativity. They represent the complete history of a particle's motion, including its position and velocity at every point in time.

2. How do worldlines differ from traditional trajectories in classical mechanics?

In classical mechanics, particles follow well-defined trajectories in 3-dimensional space. In GR, however, particles follow worldlines that exist in a 4-dimensional spacetime, which takes into account the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects.

3. Can the worldline of a particle change over time?

Yes, the worldline of a particle can change over time due to various factors such as the presence of other massive objects or the effects of gravitational waves. This is in contrast to classical mechanics, where the trajectory of a particle is considered to be fixed.

4. How are worldlines affected by the curvature of spacetime?

The curvature of spacetime, as described by Einstein's field equations in GR, directly influences the path that a particle follows through spacetime. The curvature is determined by the distribution of mass and energy in the universe, meaning that the worldline of a particle can be altered by the presence of other massive objects.

5. Can the concept of worldlines be applied to other theories of physics?

While the concept of worldlines is most commonly associated with GR, it can also be applied to other theories of physics that involve spacetime, such as special relativity and quantum mechanics. In these contexts, worldlines represent the evolution of a system over time in a similar way to how they represent the motion of a particle in GR.

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