Re: finding the particle
- From: Peter <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:15:19 +1000
On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 12:17:14 -0800, photonics wrote:
Hi all,I feel the "ProWave interpretation"
In Quantum Mechanics, when we say the probablity of finding a particle
at one place is this much, what do we actually mean by that 'finding
the particle'? This has bearing with the physical interpretation of
psi, the probablity distribution (particle in a box).
What kind of physical process is meant by that phrase? What kind of
interaction? How do you find a partcle at a position?
http://www.quantummatter.com/wave.html
provides better answers to such questions than the other interpretations.
Too hard to explain in my own words, but here is an extract from:
http://www.quantummatter.com/node4.html
<<<<<<<
Let's start with a list of the assumptions made in the ProWave
Interpretation:
1. Elementary quanta of matter and energy exist as their wavelike behavior
suggests (wave packets), always.
2. Their time evolution is described by the Schrödinger equation (or
better yet, by the Heisenberg equation of motion for the density
operator).
3. Energy transfer, in quantum amounts, takes place locally. Thus, when a
photon is absorbed and measured, its energy is transferred at only one
point in space (Basically, this is only a defining property of
"quantum").
Assumption (2) deals with propagation, which is a nonlocal, wavelike
phenomenon, and Assumption (3) deals with the creation and destruction of
quanta, which is a local phenomenon. These assumptions eliminate the
ambiguity of what the electrons and photons do while we don't measure
them. They are quantum waves: Electrons orbiting atoms are standing waves
of matter-energy, photons are wavepackets of electromagnetic energy, etc.
Also, we accept that a photon passes through both slits if both are
probable and it was not already absorbed by the wall. The same goes for
electrons. In this way, we can reinstate physical reality which is
dismantled in any wave-particle duality interpretation. The physical
reality is simply that described by the wavefunctions and density
matrices of a system, no matter how quantum entangled the states may be.
It may be difficult to imagine the states in classical terms, but they
are states nonetheless in which these very simple elementary quanta can
exist. And they propagate according to the laws described by the
mathematics of quantum mechanics.
As the quanta propagate and interact with the macroworld, two separate
types of interactions occur. The first is defined as a partial
interaction: This interaction reorganizes or redirects the wavefunction
designated by a unitary transformation matrix. Examples of such are
beamsplitters and magnetic fields. The other type of interaction is
defined as a complete interaction: This is designated by the destruction
(and creation) of a quantum of energy, for example a bound electron
absorbing a photon.
Before applying ProWave to the experiments described earlier, here it's
quickly shown that ProWave can add insight into how a cloud chamber can
measure the particle-like nature of matter waves. As, say, an electron
traverses its ``path'' in the cloud material, it is constantly being
forced into localized positions by partial interactions with the material.
Thus, the matter wave is being reorganized constantly and not really
allowed to diffract much before collapsing repeatedly. The result is a
clearly drawn path that was previously believed that only a particle could
make.
The ultimate challenge for ProWave is to explain how a spread-out wave can
collapse and deliver its energy locally upon absorption. It is helpful to
envision wave evolution analogous to blowing up a balloon. Upon
measurement, that balloon pops. The collapse (also pertains to
reconfiguring the wave's energy) is probabilistic, like not knowing where
a balloon will pop first. But once a measurement has been taken (or
perhaps the quantum is destroyed) the wave collapses everywhere nonlocally
and passes its energy to the absorber as one quanta. Likewise, when a
balloon pops, the entire surface of the balloon is quickly affected by the
loss of tension in the rubber, however time elapses before the surface
collapses. This collapse (for the quantum) need not be instantaneous, but
must be faster-than-light to insure that nonlocality still applies. The
phenomena of energy absorption and reconfiguration (quantum state changes)
are inherently quantum uncertain events and cannot be pinned to
``instantaneous''- only for practical purposes do we assume so. This is
not a problem physically because the nature of this collapse is very
poorly understood. In fact, I am suggesting the possibility of a more
general theory that reduces to QM when the time of the collapse is
considered small, in the same way that QM reduces to classical mechanics
under certain conditions. This is typically the way physics advances; I
don't see this potential for the other, far less intuitive,
interpretations.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Peter
.
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