Measurement in quantum mechanics

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## Contents

* 1 Formulation
* 2 Paradox
* 3 Notes

In quantum mechanics, measurement concerns the interaction of a macroscopic measurement apparatus with an observed quantum mechanical system, and the so-called "collapse" of the wavefunction upon measurement from a superposition of possibilities to a defined state. A review can be found in Zurek,[1] and in Riggs.[2]

## Formulation[edit]

Measurement in quantum mechanics satisfies these requirements:[2]:

* the wavefunction ψ (the solution to the Schrödinger equation) is a complete description of a system
* the wavefunction evolves in time according to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation
* every observable property of the system corresponds to some linear operator O with a number of eigenvalues
* any measurement of the property O results in an eigenvalue of O
* the probability that the measurement will result in the j-th eigenvalue is |(ψ, ψj)|2, where ψj corresponds to an eigenvector of O with the j-th eigenvalue, and it is assumed that |(ψ, ψ)|2 = 1.
* a repetition of the measurement results in the same eigenvalue provided the system is not further disturbed between measurements. It is said that the first measurement has collapsed the wavefunction ψ to become the eigenfunction ψj.

Here (f, g) is shorthand for the scalar product of f and g. For example,

(ψj, ψ)=∫Ω dx ψj*(x)ψ(x) ,

for a single-particle wavefunction in one dimension, with ‘*’ denoting a complex conjugate, and Ω the region in which the particle is confined.

This description is a bit elliptic in that there may be several states corresponding to the eigenvalue j, requiring some further elaboration.

## Paradox[edit]

The interpretation of measurement in quantum mechanics has led to a number of puzzles. The most famous illustration is Schrödinger's cat, in which a random quantum event like a radioactive decay is set up to kill a cat in a box. In the microscopic description, the cat is described by a superposition of "alive" and "dead" possibilities, and we have the peculiar result that all is in a state of suspense (the cat is neither alive nor dead, but a superposition of both) until we open the box to see what has happened.[3] Is this uncertainty about us (the observers), or the cat? Can opening a box decide life or death?

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ W. Hubert Zurek (July, 2003). "Decoherence, einselection, and the quantum origins of the classical". Rev Mod Phys vol. 75: pp. 715 ff.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Peter J. Riggs (2009). “§2.3.1 The measurement problem”, Quantum Causality: Conceptual Issues in the Causal Theory of Quantum Mechanics. Springer, pp. 31 ff. ISBN 9048124026.
3. ↑ Erwin Schrödinger (John D. Trimmer, translator) (Original published in German in Naturwissenschaften 1935). "The present situation in quantum mechanics; a translation of Schrödinger's "cat paradox paper"". Proc American Phil Soc vol. 124: pp. 323-388.