mpolo said:Why does a wave function collapse when we observe a particle?
mpolo said:Super position works by the power of influencing the course of events by using a mysterious or supernatural force?
PeterDonis said:it's a question about interpretation, which cannot be resolved by experiment since all interpretations make the same predictions for all experiments.
mpolo said:I think that Decoherence is the most likely explanation
mpolo said:there is still the problem, that Decoherence does not claim to provide a mechanism for the actual wave function collapse
mpolo said:It seems to me that there can only be one correct Interpretation for any mathematical formula or model
mpolo said:Are you saying we cannot prove which interpretation is correct by experiment?
mpolo said:what is the actual mechanism that causes wave function collapse.
This cannot be correct, because a mathematical formula or model is made to describe a certain process and the variables to represent a certain quantity. An experiment or measurement is usually an example which tests the validity of the model. An interpretation is per se an attachment of meaning, which humans provide to fit their individual perception of nature. It cannot be tested, because it isn't part of the model, only part of a verbal description of this model. The model itself has no meaning, resp. interpretation beside the dependencies of quantities.mpolo said:It seems to me that there can only be one correct Interpretation for any mathematical formula or model.
How would you distinguish whether ##\dot{x}(t)=c## is interpreted as speed or as distance. They are two different ways to describe the formula. Mathematically it is only a straight, and physically a uniform movement. You cannot say that one interpretation is correct and the other is not. Both rely on the same formula, make the same predictions and experiment proves both to be true. I admit it is a bit of a poor example, but the mechanism of interpretation is the same. I recently counted on how many ways a derivative can "interpreted" mathematically. I've found ten different environments, all describing one formula from different perspectives.Are you saying we cannot prove which interpretation is correct by experiment?
The collapse of the wave function is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics and refers to the transition from a probabilistic state described by the wave function to a definite state when a measurement is made. This collapse is necessary for the observed results to be consistent with classical physics and is a consequence of the measurement process itself.
The exact mechanism of wave function collapse is still a subject of debate among physicists. The most widely accepted explanation is the Copenhagen interpretation, which states that the wave function collapses randomly and instantaneously upon measurement. Other interpretations, such as the Many Worlds interpretation, propose that the collapse occurs due to the interaction between the measured system and the measuring apparatus.
No, the collapse of the wave function is a random event and cannot be predicted with certainty. The wave function only describes the probabilities of different outcomes, and the exact outcome is determined upon measurement. This is one of the key principles of quantum mechanics, known as the uncertainty principle.
After the wave function collapses, it is no longer relevant for the measured system. The system is now in a definite state, and any further measurements will produce the same result. However, the wave function can still be used to describe the probabilities of future measurements on the same system.
The wave function collapse is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics, but it is still a subject of debate whether it is a real physical process or simply a mathematical tool to describe the behavior of quantum systems. Some theories, such as pilot-wave theory, propose that the wave function collapse is a real physical process, while others, such as the Many Worlds interpretation, argue that it is a mathematical construct with no physical reality.