On the Quantum Mechanical Measurement Process
article
The quantum mechanical measurement process is analyzed by means of an explicit generic model describing the interaction between object and measuring device. The solution of the Schrödinger equation for the whole system refects the 'collapse' of the object wave function. A necessary condition is a sufciently sharply peaked initial measurement device wave function, which is guaranteed in its classical limit. With this assumption, it is in particular proven that the off-diagonal elements of the object density matrix vanish. This study therefore shows the reduction of the object state to be a consequence of Hamiltonian evolution of the total system.
TNO Identifier
946944
ISSN
00159018
Source
Foundations of Physics, 51(1)
Publisher
Springer
Collation
13 p.
Place of publication
Heidelberg, Germany
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