Questions tagged [born-rule]
The Born rule is a rule in Quantum Mechanics that states that the probability density $\rho$ is $|\psi|^2$ where $\psi$ is the probability amplitude.
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Does the wavefunction probabilities have to sum to 1? [duplicate]
In quantum mechanics we are often told that $\int |\psi(x,t)|^2 dx^3 =1$.
i.e. the probabilities have to sum to 1. And that this implies the time evolution operator is unitary.
But can't we define ...
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Normalisation of quantum states: why?
We all learn that quantum states need to be normalized, as they are associated to probabilities which needs to sum up to one. However, I would like to know whether you have other valid reasons to ...
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Intuitive understanding of a wave function
Looks like wave function is an abstract mathematical object. I was trying to see if there is a simple way to visualize this. Can someone please help with that? I was thinking may be we can think that ...
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Small psi in the time-independent Schrödinger equation
I'm a total beginner in quantum mechanics, and I am learning about time-independent Schrödinger equation. we separate the wave function into two functions $$\Psi(x, t) = \psi(x)\phi(t).$$ Does the ...
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Probability of finding a particle in space [closed]
Given a particle whose wave function is square integrable, what is the probability of finding that particle somewhere in space?
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Can the many worlds interpretation use the Born rule for decoherence? [closed]
If the Many-Worlds Interpretation cannot derive the Born rule does it need mind body dualism to make sense of probabilities?
I asked a different question here regarding MWI and circularity. But here'...
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Is there an official list of the postulates of quantum mechanics?
Having been looking at lecture notes, online sources and books, the list of postulates of quantum mechanics seems to vary. For instance, some sources (my lecture notes, for instance) refer to $|\...
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Is the energy of a vibrating string the classical analog to Born's rule?
Consider this Phys.SE question which spells out the energy of a vibrating string as a variant of Hooke's law, and thereby explains why it's proportional to the square of the amplitude (here: the ...
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Two Time Correlation function calculated from Born rule
Update Below
I'm having a hard time reconciling two different calculations of the quantum two time correlation function. Consider quantum operator $A$ with eigenvectors $\{|\phi_i\rangle\}$ and ...
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Generalizing Born rule
In Quantum mechanics, The born rule is that the probability is given by $\mid \langle\Phi\mid\Psi\rangle\mid^2$ I understand that this is essential in order that the QM reduces to the correct ...
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1answer
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A textbook's reading of the Born Interpretation
A textbook states the following:
$P(x, t) \ dx $ is the probability that a measurement of the position of the particle
described by $\Psi (x, t)$, at time $ t$, will find it in the region $(x, x +...
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I've read that $\langle a | b\rangle$ is a probability amplitude but $\langle a | a\rangle$ is a probability. Why the inconsistency?
I'm studying elementary quantum mechanics, and I've read that $\langle a \vert b \rangle$ is the probability amplitude of a transition from state $a$ to state $b$. Thus, $|\langle a | b \rangle|^2$ ...
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Does a wave function never reach zero probability density?
$$ψ=e^{iκx}$$
Since the wave function is an exponential equation, is there no point with zero probability density of finding a given particle? Does that justify quantum tunneling?
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Finding amplitude of probability
The mathematical structure of quantum mechanics, follows almost inevitably from the concept of a probability amplitude. For James Binney and David Skinner:
"With every value in the spectrum of a ...
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1answer
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What is the physical basis of Born's interpretations?
Did anyone has any idea how Born came up with the probabilistic interpretation of quantum mechanics. It is by all means very bizarre. And then it leads to the idea of copenhagen interpretation. Also ...
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1answer
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Probability of finding an energy state of a non-normalisable wave-function
Suppose, say, I have the following wave function
It represents the wave function of a free particle.
I would want to calculate the probability of finding the particle with energy ħk and energy 2ħk. ...
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Probability measure implies quantum mechanics?
The article "Quantum Logic and Probability Theory," by Wilce, has the following in section 1.4:
1.4 The Reconstruction of QM
From the single premise that the “experimental propositions” ...
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Does Gleason's Theorem Imply Born's Rule?
Suppose that I accept that there is wave function collapse in quantum mechanics, and that the probabilities associated with each orthogonal subspace are a function of the wave function $\psi$ before ...
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Reconstruct quantum state from probabilities
Given a quantum state, the Born rule lets us compute probabilities. Conversely, given probabilities, can we reconstruct the quantum state? I think the answer is almost trivially positive but how ...
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Born rule and expectation value integral for $L = x \times p$
Physical interpretation of the wave function $\psi (x,t)$ is a probability amplitude for location $x$ and the Fourier transform of $\psi (x,t)$ can be interpreted as a probability amplitude for ...
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4answers
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Can the complex square of the wave function be interpreted as shape of the particle? [closed]
We know that for wave function of a photon or an electron, the complex square of the wave function is understood as the probability density of finding point like particle in the location. Can anyone ...
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0answers
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Validity of Born Rule [closed]
The Born rule has been very successful in quantum mechanics. However, the interesting fact about this rule is that it only allows pairwise interference. In other words, there are no interference terms ...
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1answer
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Does the Born rule imply $L_2$ Space?
I see no formal proof of the Born rule.
Well, the normalizing condition $\int_\infty|\Psi|^2dx=1$ is because of Born rule if I am not wrong. Does this imply that our reality is a $L_2$ space?
If ...
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Implication of Born's rule on the superposition principle
BACKGROUND
Born's rule quantifies the interference pattern of a single quantum particle going through two possibles paths A and B as
$P = |A|^2 + |B|^2 + ⟨A|B⟩ + ⟨B|A⟩$.
The standard interpretation ...
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1answer
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If the Many Worlds interpretation (MWI) cannot derive the Born rule, would that mean that it is wrong?
All attempts at deriving the born rule in MWI have been shown to be circular in some way. So if it turns out that MWI cannot derive the born rule without some form of circularity, does that mean that ...
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1answer
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Are there any derivations of the born rule from MWI that work?
Are there any derivations of the born rule from MWI that are not circular and are mathematically consistent? I ask this because Florin Moldoveanu insists that such a derivation from MWI doesn't exist. ...
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What is the initial and rigorous definition of state function $\psi$ in quantum mechanics?
Is the
$$
P_{a\le x\le b} (t) = \int\limits_a^b d x\,|\psi(x)|^2 \,
$$
and
$$
P_{a\le p\le b} (t) = \int\limits_a^b d p\,|\psi(p)|^2 \,
$$
results or axiomatic definitions?
Sorry if the ...
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2answers
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What precisely is the wave function a probability density of?
In QM the norm of the wave function $\psi(\vec{x})$ is said to be the probability density that the particle is at $\psi(\vec{x})$ if one would observe its position. Generally, nothing more is ...
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Defining Quantum Mechanics
Does
Schrödinger's Equation (Operator form)
$[\hat{X},\hat{P}]=i$
Born Rules
define Quantum Mechanics?
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1answer
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Understanding the Mathematical Formalisms of Everetts MWI
Link to article: http://jamesowenweatherall.com/SCPPRG/EverettHugh1957PhDThesis_BarrettComments.pdf
I'm writing an essay on Everettian MWI and its incompatibility with Born Rule probabilities. I ...
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1answer
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Basic question about wave funtions: using the Born rule
I have a textbook giving an example of what the probability is of observing system $Ψ = a|A⟩ + b|B⟩$ in states $a|A⟩$ and $b|B⟩$.
I'm not sure I understand it fully. How do I use the Born rule to know ...
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Clashing definition of rays in Weinberg and Sakurai and Born interpretation without normalizability [duplicate]
In Sakurai's Modern Quantum Mechanics, it is stated that
One of the physics postulates is that $|\alpha\rangle$ and $c|\alpha\rangle$, with $c\neq 0$, represent the same physical state. In other ...
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1answer
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Algebra behind the wave function properties [closed]
In lecture, for the tunnelling wave function
$$ \psi(x) = C_1\cosh(x/l)+C_2\sinh(x/l)$$
the current density is
$$ J = h/(2mi) [ \psi^*(\Delta\psi) - (\Delta\psi)^*\psi] $$
Here is my problem, ...
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Physical interpretation of nodes in quantum mechanics
In Schrödinger's approach to quantum mechanics, we talk about the probability of finding a particle in a definite location in space. Now if we look at a simple quantum mechanical system, say the ...
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Is the wave function the Radon-Nikodym derivative of a complex measure?
I read somewhere (latest version of a webcomic to be honest) that "superposition" means:
a complex linear combination of a $0$ state and a $1$ state... Quantum mechanics is just a certain ...
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Born's interpretation of psi
According to the Born's postulates, psi should be atleast differentiable to the first order then why does we not require psi in this case to be differentiable at X = a and X = 0.Also psi comes out to ...
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1answer
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Why to take the absolute value of the wave function before squaring it?
For obtaining the probability distribution we should take the absolute value of the Schrodingër Wave Function 'Ψ'and then square it. But why to take first the absolute value if the square is going to ...
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Probability of quantum transition
I have a question about a task:
We have a particle, which is in a linear combination of the first two states of the harmonic oscillator, which we can parametrise as $|\psi\rangle=\cos(\frac{\...
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1answer
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What are some experimental verifications of Born's rule in quantum mechanics?
Born's rule in quantum mechanics states that when measuring a system using a measuring device that can detect (=project onto) an orthogonal basis of states, the probability of obtaining a certain ...
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3answers
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How does technology rely on the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics?
With respect to the dual slit experiment and the conclusion of probability waves, I was watching a documentary that said without "accepting chance" we couldn't have functioning technology in today's ...
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What is radial probability density?
I have read the pages suggested as similar and not found the answer to my question, or if it's there I didn't understand it. I have seen radial probability density described on various different ...
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Consistency of “Adding Amplitudes” and Normalization
Consider two particles ($ a $ and $ b $) colliding and scattering elastically at right angles (calling paths 1, 2; up and down, respectively).
The problem is to work out the probabilities of this ...
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Validity of analysing spherical harmonics in real-space using the probability amplitude [closed]
While looking up spherical harmonics (on the validity of analysing them in real-space in a transition metal crystal structure), I came across this: http://shpenkov.janmax.com/hybridizationshpenkov.pdf ...
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Why do we square probability amplitude? Why not direct values?
According to my knowledge (which is feeble) we will also get the same result if used direct values. For example, if the probability of something happening is 4% or 0.04, we should make an arrow of 0....
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2answers
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Born's interpretation for momentum operator
Hi I have a basic QM question: Given a state vector $|\psi(t) \rangle$, at some time $t$, we can project this onto the position basis, $\langle \vec{r}| \psi(t) \rangle = \psi(\vec{r},t)$. Then from ...
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Probability in QM: derivation or interpretation? [duplicate]
It is known that coordinates $C_k\in\mathbb{C}$ of the QM-state vectors $|\psi\rangle$ has an interpretation as probability weights $p_k$ in the whole state through the formula like $|C_k|^2=p_k$. We ...
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Can a particle pass through a nodal point where its wave function is zero?
Let's consider an infinite square well. In the first exited state there is a node at the middle of the well (i.e. wave function and thus probability of finding the particle is zero there).
If I ...
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Schrödinger's interpretation of his wave function before Born
The below shows some excerpt from Feynman's lecture notes.
21–4 The meaning of the wave function
When Schrödinger first discovered his equation he discovered the conservation law of Eq. (21....
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Different postulates and statistical interpreations of quantum mechanics
Hi I have a query about the difference of two aspects of the statistical interpretation of quantum mechanics given in the popular introductory quantum mechanics books "Introduction to Quantum ...
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2answers
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What are “interferences of higher order” in the context of Born rule and triple-slit diffraction?
This question relates to the paper commented in
this 2010 article.
The paper itself is Ruling Out Multi-Order Interference in Quantum Mechanics; it is the discussion of a triple-slit interference ...
