I personally prefer collapse-free interpretations precisely because of this problem: instantaneous collapse of the electron wave function involves unphysical infinite electric currents. The state of the apparatus at the exact moment of the irreversible detection of the particle at the screen determines if the particle is contributing to case a or case b pattern. And yes, we do know that the Schroedinger equation is accurate. This also removes the idea that measurement is a special act that collapses the wavefunction, hence resolving the Copenhagen interpretation. Collapse is a black box for a thermodynamically irreversible interaction with a classical environment. A subatomic particle in flight has many potential values for position and momentum, each with a certain probability. Consider: there is not a single scientific experiment, ever, that did not culminate in an observation by a consciousness[3]. Which is why we don't know and cannot know if the not-looked-at-directly camera-based which-path detector caused collapse until we look at the electrons' landing pattern to see if collapse occurred at all. Take the "observation" out of the equation. If not then it is truly based upon the observer. 1. Thus the mere act of observation affects the experimental findings. Why are you bothering? In quantum mechanics, wave function collapse is said to occur when a wave functioninitially in a superposition of several eigenstatesappears to reduce to a single eigenstate (by "observation"). Instead, there is a collapse of the density matrix into the wave function which is about as exciting as updating probabilities via the Bayes theorem. Use MathJax to format equations. So conscious observation is always in there, getting in the way, and leaving us uncertain - in fact in scientific terms, utterly clueless to be precise -- as to what part, if any, it's playing. Many theories are put forth to explain it, such as the Many Worlds Theory, Decoherence, etc. What is the real meaning of Schrdinger's cat? This is a typical 'paradox' in that a poorly framed question or experiment yields ambiguous or paradoxical answers. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". What mathematical algebra explains sequence of circular shifts on rows and columns of a matrix? wave function, in quantum mechanics, variable quantity that mathematically describes the wave characteristics of a particle. Why was video, audio and picture compression the poorest when storage space was the costliest? An obvious answer is an interaction between the classical, macro world with a wavefunction. But think, according to quantum physics before a measurement or an observation, the observers brain that is doing the looking is also quantum possibility. 2 : to break down completely : disintegrate his case had collapsed in a mass of legal wreckage Is the wave function real? Stack Overflow for Teams is moving to its own domain! Physics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for active researchers, academics and students of physics. In this picture, there is nothing like a collapse of the wave function into another wave function. So does the wave function collapse due to a concious observation? The new wave function parts $\psi_L'$ and $\psi_R'$ are then othogonal so the interference is absent. 1 Why does an observer collapse a wave function? @my2cts Or maybe that question should be closed a duplicate of this one if either question really needs to be closed. This one asks for opinions on when the wavefunction collapses, Here, in comment 78 I criticize Many Worlds, Check out Wikipedia's collection of various interpretations, http://www.sciforums.com/showpost.php?p=1294496&postcount=52, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Why plants and animals are so different even though they come from the same ancestors? We can never tell what an unlooked-at system looks like without looking at it, at which point it is no longer unlooked-at. So, the answer is yes. Suppose you use sensors and cameras that aren't actually sensors or cameras but ACT like sensors and cameras. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. 3 What happens when a wave function collapses? Double Slit Experiment Explained Step-By-Step, The Quantum Experiment that Broke Reality | Space Time | PBS Digital Studios. MathJax reference. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. In the second, the waveform collapses because of the 'active' method of observation. Does the observer or the camera collapse the wave function in the double slit experiment? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. ). These two parts are not orthogonal so they interfere. It seems to me that there can only be one correct Interpretation for any mathematical formula or model. While the effects of observation are often negligible, the object still experiences a change. A detector that can distinguish left and right can only do so by being entangled with this wave function. The answer is no. There's no evidence that conscious observations have anything to do with wave functions collapsing. What does the observer do in quantum mechanics? Why doesn't this unzip all my files in a given directory? Only the camera will have 'seen' the event. Collapse of the Wave Function The value of the wave function of a particle at a given point of space and time is related to the likelihood of the particle's being there at the time. Steady state heat equation/Laplace's equation special geometry. How does a spinor affect a wave function? Note that in this experiment Bob hasn't detected any particles himself but keeps a record of the time at which he opens or closes the hole which can be correlated with the particle arrival times at the screen. Still, it doesn't prove anything because it also is not fully passive observation of a single particle. [1] The reason this kind of thing gets attention in QM is because experiments like double-slit served to highlight the problem by showing us a peculiar form of measurement error that is fundamentally different from the everyday kind, such as turning on a light so we can see to count how many cockroaches there are in a dark room. A detector that can distinguish left and right can only do so by being entangled with this wave function. There is no camera or sensor that does not "vacuum up" electrons or photons to give you a reading. The Young's double slit experiment was designed to show the wave nature of light through the visualisation of interference. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company. The statistical population of the wave function is formulated for an infinite number of . Why don't math grad schools in the U.S. use entrance exams? And even though in your example we are, on purpose, not looking at the "which path" information in the camera, it's not at all clear that what makes that camera information be "which path" information is not conscious observation. Or that the value of it is observed when it is observed. Science is the act of observation (plus a bunch of other things, of course[2]). But the problem is actually much deeper than that. But since the wave function descibres the probability distribution of the position of the electron, observing the electron and trying to determine its position will collapse this probability distribution from a superpositions of states into a single state. So there is an interference by the sensor collection that causes waves to act like particles. Does Consciousness collapse the wave function? Eventhough. This sounds like a homework question from a QM course which assumes (perhaps, tacitly) a particular interpretation of the QM. But those results were determined by the now lost information, they don't suddenly change. There are some good answers here. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Why does a wave function collapse when we observe a particle? So does the wave function collapse due to a concious observation? Jon Von Neumann theorem proved that the quantum effects continue all the way to macro measuring apparatuses and computers. Are you saying we cannot prove which interpretation is correct by experiment? Book your free consultation with our Caribbean travel expert today So does the wave function collapse due to a concious observation? It is the essence of measurement in quantum mechanics and connects the wave function with classical observables like position and momentum. As soon as a reasonable model is introduced for the measurement process, the "collapse" becomes a three-stage process: 1) The system that is being measured is entangled with the measurement apparatus. necessarily macroscopic. It seems to me like this could be borne out in experiments. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Mobile app infrastructure being decommissioned. Double Slit Experiment. Only in the presence of observers can it be unambiguously stated that quantum possibility becomes actuality. The wave function will collapse, and the photon will have lost its superposition and been measured. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The wave function tells us the abstract probability of finding the particle somewhere. Let's go back to philosophy, mathematics is just too much for me. The new wave function parts $\psi_L'$ and $\psi_R'$ are then othogonal so the interference is absent. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The idea of probability - or possibilities - "collapsing" is much easier to understand. Put simply, the act of observation involves obtaining information about a system - i.e making some measurement of it. If we setup the camera to record like above but NEVER EVER EVER look at the result of what was recorded. Is it possible for a gas fired boiler to consume more energy when heating intermitently versus having heating at all times? The importance of the concept of measurement in quantum mechanics was My personal interpretation involves what is called "advanced action" or causes that occur 'after' their effects, also known as Block Time, which means that the wavefunction. From the quantum eraser experiments we know the answer:By repetition of the experiment the pattern built up at the screen is the interference pattern (case a). Re: @user774025's, Landau quote in which measurement is defined as "occurring apart from and independently of any observer". It does not store any personal data. Such, for instance, is a body Do we ever see a hobbit use their natural ability to disappear? of large enough mass. Answer (1 of 8): The development of quantum mechanics can be illustrated in the strange behaviour of the Young's double slit experiment. Keep in mind the delay choice experiment. Then you will have never actually observed the photon. Philosophy is bs, especially when trying to understand something, which you clearly have no intention of doing. A key focus point is that of wave function collapse, for which several popular interpretations assert that measurement causes a discontinuous change into an eigenstate of the operator associated with the quantity that was measured, a change which is not time-reversible. Wavefunctions and their collapse is just a part of this mathematical tool. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. In quantum mechanics, wave function collapse occurs when a wave function initially in a superposition of several eigenstates reduces to a single eigenstate due to interaction with the external world. The difference between the measurement and any other interaction is in that the perturbation introduced by measurement is unknown beforehand. How does observation affect a quantum wave function? Mathematically however it's quite straight forward : Let's go back to philosophy, mathematics is just too much for me. Can you go from brown to blonde with box dye? What happens when a wave function collapses? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If, at some point in time, the wave function is highly localized in space (for example, if it "collapsed" due to a measurement of position), the natural time evolution spreads it back out again; there is no additional mechanism needed. The first ones show the interference pattern the second do not. Eugene. Although it may appear that the wave function spreads out more quickly after collapse than before collapse, the spread after and before collapse are governed by the same equation (the Schroedinger equation). Let's go back to philosophy, mathematics is just too much for me. Handling unprepared students as a Teaching Assistant. (clarification of a documentary). When the atom interacts with an object (is "measured"), the wave function collapses. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Is there an industry-specific reason that many characters in martial arts anime announce the name of their attacks? I think that Decoherence is the most likely explanation but there is still the problem, that Decoherence does not claim to provide a mechanism for the actual wave function collapse; rather it puts forth a reasonable mechanism for the appearance of wavefunction collapse. In science (as opposed to metaphysics, say, or mathematics) that -- our observations -- is the basis of what we say stuff about when we say stuff. Is this homebrew Nystul's Magic Mask spell balanced? At this point, the system (i.e., the electron) can no longer be described by a wave function, one does have to switch to density matrices. So I guess I am still stuck with a mystery. Why? One of the oddest predictions of quantum theory that a system cant change while youre watching it has been confirmed in an experiment by Cornell physicists. It would be ridiculous to think that some mysterious substance called "wavefunction" really propagates through the slits and collapses when it touches the screen, or that particles "know" when they are being watched. Why does an observer collapse a wave function? Why does the wave function collapse when observed? Similar to their micron-scale counterparts, microbubbles (1-10 m), they can act as ultrasound contrast agents as well as locally enhance therapeutic uptake. Aug 17, 2017 #5 Thanks for the answer! I think your question is what isdefinition of measurement in quantum mechanics or equivalently when does a "wavefunction" collapse happen? Also if particles can split, then can we also split I mean could we exist without knowing we exist, I mean just not here in this universe? Also if particles can split, then can we also split I mean could we exist without knowing we exist, I mean just not here in this universe? The point is destroying Bobs information doesn't change the results which were observed at the screen. Wave function using the time dependent Schrodinger equation, Objective-collapse theory, collapse for large objects. So in science, the answer to the question: "Why are you asking that? It comes on suddenly, only lasts for a short time and you recover fully within a short time. In the 1st case, waveform collapse cannot occur. And by then, although we have confirmed collapse, we've added a new factor -- the looking. The camera will cause the wavefunction to "collapse". How can I calculate the number of permutations of an irregular rubik's cube? It aims at removing the need for superposition of particles by introducing spontaneous collapse (rate is of the order of once every hundred million years). Does the wave function spread more quickly after it is observed? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Just make up anything you want and that should satisfy you. How many ways are there to solve a Rubiks cube? It may not display this or other websites correctly. In Bohm interpretation the collapse of the wave function happens when the observer introduces into the measured system some perturbation, which is inevitable when performing the measurement. In the 1920s and 1930s, some quantum physicists considered the possibility that consciousness collapses the wave function. Now what happens if he manages to re-open hole 2 just before the particle is detected at the screen? Minimum number of random moves needed to uniformly scramble a Rubik's cube? sufficient accuracy, by classical mechanics. 1. In quantum physics, the term "observation" sometimes causes confusion. The pattern observed on a screen ca. Wave Function Collapse using faulty recording devices. It only takes a minute to sign up. Separating the mind from the brain makes a lot of sense to me, and I've thought about this before. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Number of unique permutations of a 3x3x3 cube. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. How does the particle choose a particular state? Could the quantum wave function collapse under these settings? In the double slit experiment, what happens when there is more than one observer trying to see which slit the same electron goes through? I believe secondary qualities (or "qualia"), such as pain or sweet, or abstract concepts like a perfect circle or the mathematical concept of infinity all reside on an informational plane which resides outside of the physical realm. Why does a wave function collapse when we observe a particle? The difference between the measurement and any other interaction is in that the perturbation introduced by measurement is unknown beforehand. When will a wave function collapse if the observer was only a camera and the video was watched later in time? It is also often called a blackout. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Wave function collapse. Suppose the experiment consists of Bob at hole 2 in the double slit experiment being able to open and close the hole instantly. Actually, rereading your post, you are presuming that it was the conscious observation that was the "cause", and not the photographic plates themselves. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. How many axis of symmetry of the cube are there? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 10 Can decoherence explain wave function collapse? Last year, Sudarsky and Okon calculated that the rate of random wave function collapse given by their theory agrees with the information loss rate predicted for black holes (Foundations of Physics, vol 44, p 114). So to be clear, I am asking about the interpretation or meaning of the wave function collapse? Observer bias occurs when we alter what we see, either by only noticing what we expect or by behaving in ways that have influence on what occurs. What if it is on, but the lense cap is on? Science Just Is looking. There is no other alternative. What is the decision making process? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. we can thus group the screen observations into two groups- those that occurred with the hole open and those with it closed. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. The liberals said the Constitution had to be a living document, which means that it is forever changing, which means redefined, which means eroded. Why would you think that advanced action has a "time limit" of effectiveness? Quantum refers to objects which have quantum properties, like photons or electrons. In quantum mechanics, wave function collapse occurs when a wave functioninitially in a superposition of several eigenstatesreduces to a single eigenstate due to interaction with the external world. This interaction is called an observation . This is still an unknown process: Why measurement collapses the superposition. According to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, the collapse of the wave function takes place when a conscious observer is involved. In quantum mechanics, wave function collapse occurs when a wave functioninitially in a superposition of several eigenstatesreduces to a single eigenstate due to interaction with the external world.This interaction is called an "observation". The Schroedinger equation does not apply only at the moment of collapse. 3) The density matrix is updated taking into account the measurement result. Take seriously quantum theory's higher dimensional models, and we could make sense of the strange phenomenon and restore some order to cause and effect. How many rectangles can be observed in the grid? We have defined "apparatus" as a physical object which is governed, with How is energy transferred from a wave to a photon? This view interprets the world as a wave, spread out over . This leads us to consider a wavefunction in a quantum rather than classical world where it interacts . The observer has, rather, only the function of registering decisions, i.e., processes in space and time, and it does not matter whether the observer is an apparatus or a human being; but the registration, i.e., the transition from the possible to the actual, is absolutely necessary here and cannot be omitted from . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The Constitution has been eroding away for a long time. JavaScript is disabled. Thread closed. 3) The density matrix is updated taking into account the measurement result. Let the intensity be so low that on average only one particle at a time is in the apparatus. That the brain, mind or . Rubik's Cube Stage 6 -- show bottom two layers are preserved by $ R^{-1}FR^{-1}BBRF^{-1}R^{-1}BBRRU^{-1} $. What effect does the detector actually cause? how about some other things, such as what if the camera is left off? What is the significance of blind Bartimaeus? Wave function collapse is one of the long-standing mysteries of quantum mechanics. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. elucidated by N. Bohr. Are there any other explanations besides the Many Worlds and Decoherence? Why do lasers in open air produce 2-slit interference patterns? No problem in objective collapse theory: no observer is required. It will experience decoherence. Decoherence is thus very important for explaining the classical limit of quantum mechanics, but cannot explain wave function collapse, as all classical alternatives are still present in the mixed state, and wave function collapse selects only one of them. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. By measurement, in quantum mechanics, we understand any process of interaction between classical and quantum objects, occurring apart from and independently of any observer. Why does sending via a UdpClient cause subsequent receiving to fail? However, it must not be supposed that apparatus is In physics, the observer effect is the disturbance of an observed system by the act of observation. Either you are a terrible reader or I a terrible writer. Any wave function collapse then it happens only on your desk by ignoring the contribution of the detector to the wave function. The results being the same tells us that the double-slit has nothing to do with human observation, but simply the mechanical reaction effects of the dumb tool you are using. The observation and the collapse of the wave function are the same event. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. How do planetarium apps and software calculate positions? Find a completion of the following spaces. Thanks for contributing an answer to Physics Stack Exchange! How does consciousness collapse the wave function? Is this meat that I was told was brisket in Barcelona the same as U.S. brisket? If the hole were closed at the time the particle is irreversibly detected at the screen then the pattern built up would not show interference at all (case b). The answer is that we just don't know. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. also be taken by an object which is microscopic, since the idea of "with From the perspective of one wave-function, this gives the appearance that the other wave-function has collapsed, but what has really happened is the two wave-functions' states have become locked-in with respect to each other. I thought we were doing science!?"_. What are the best sites or free software for rephrasing sentences? Nothing will ever be predicted and then observed from the idea that the collapse is caused by an interaction or by the alternative that it is just some decoherence. Even the human eyeball or eardrum is not completely passive, they ever-so-slightly affect the light and sound waves of the observed environment. For other uses, see Collapse. This rate is extremely high for macroscopic objects. What matters is, saying anything about the system first requires a conscious observation. Recently, it has been shown that the reduced size of NBs (<1 m) promotes increased uptake and accumulation in tumor interstitial space . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How many 12 hour day shifts can I work in a row? 2) The degrees of freedom of the measurement apparatus are discarded ("traced out", in the language of density matrices). Any wave function collapse then it happens only on your desk by ignoring the contribution of the detector to the wave function. You are using an out of date browser. what is the actual mechanism that causes wave function collapse. When the wave function collapses to unity in one place and zero . Does the wave function still collapse? Wave function won't collapse under a microscope? But in truth, that measuring apparatus cannot truly measure. This has been explained on this site several times before. [3] Even if we take an eliminative view of what consciousness is.
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