Wave Collapse Doesn't Matter

Christian Stucchio, Oct. 2, 2007

The weird part of quantum mechanics is that claim that the observer plays a fundamental role. Schrodinger famously asked whether a cat is an observer, and if so, what object does not? Textbook quantum mechanics says that between observations, Schrodingers law of motion applies. At the time of observations, wave collapse occurs. No satisfactory answer as to what constitutes an observation has yet to present itself, beyond "I know it when I see it."

In this talk, I'll explain the basics of quantum mechanics at an elementary level. I will then show that for a modified Stern-Gerlach experiment, we can discard the law of wave collapse and get the right experimental outcome. Thus, wave collapse doesn't matter.

This is a joint work with Avy Soffer.