"According to Copenhagen Interpretation, before quantum objects are observed, they exist as wavefunctions that can contain a superposition of many mutually contradictory properties. It's only when an observer makes a measurement that the wavefunction collapses, and the particle settles on one of these properties." - Julie Rehmeyer, fq(x) News
Copenhagen Interpretation Wiki Entry
Principles
- A system is completely described by a wave function ψ, which represents an observer's knowledge of the system. (Heisenberg)
- The description of nature is essentially probabilistic. The probability of an event is related to the square of the amplitude of the wave function related to it. (Max Born)
- Heisenberg's uncertainty principle states the observed fact that it is not possible to know the values of all of the properties of the system at the same time; those properties that are not known with precision must be described by probabilities.
- (Complementary Principle) Matter exhibits a wave-particle duality. An experiment can show the particle-like properties of matter, or wave-like properties, but not both at the same time.(Niels Bohr)
- Measuring devices are essentially classical devices, and measure classical properties such as position and momentum.
- The Correspondence Principle of Bohr and Heisenberg: the quantum mechanical description of large systems should closely approximate to the classical description.
Am I a believer of this? I am not sure if I will on the deterministic or non-deterministic interpretation of QM. It has been years already that I have not done any QM in my life. I guess it's time for me to revisit this topic.
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