Measurement in quantum mechanics?

Question

i am writing a short essay on measurement for quantum mechanics and how this is a technical term with a precise meaning. i have to explain this and include meaning of measurement in copenhagens interpretation and the collapse of wave function can anyone help?

Answer 1

Here, wikipedia even wrote an article for you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measurement...

Answer 2

You probably need to discuss the uncertainty principle, which states that (uncertainty in position) x (uncertainty in momentum) > h/2pi, where h is Planck's constant. In a simple example, it arises because in order to measure position accurately, you have to use a short wavelength radiation, but that carries a lot of momentum and so you cannot tell accurately what the momentum of your object will be after the measurement. Thus measuring (or if you prefer, observing) the state of something in quantum mechanics is an operation which in itself is likely to change the state of the system.

Answer 3

the Copenhagen interpretation is on page 159 of QPI really look at that. Then look at the collapse of the wavefunction on pages 164-165.

Now, what does measurement mean from a quantum physics point of view (copenhagen here) and what happened to Schrodinger's cat (collapse of wavefunction)

You may want to look at the decoherence effect page 167.

And then all of this will set you uo nicely for the many world's interpretation and how it argues everything above!

again, i hope this helps.

Answer 4

Look up the Schroedinger's Cat thought experiment.  That's what it was all about.