Collapse of wave functions in Schrödinger’s wave mechanics
Abstract We show that inelastic scattering in a short-range potential leads to a collapse of the wave function within standard evolution through the Schrödinger equation, whereas elastic scattering will not collapse the wave function. Specifically, we find that the initial width of the emerging wave...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79440-w |
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| author | Rainer Dick |
| author_facet | Rainer Dick |
| author_sort | Rainer Dick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We show that inelastic scattering in a short-range potential leads to a collapse of the wave function within standard evolution through the Schrödinger equation, whereas elastic scattering will not collapse the wave function. Specifically, we find that the initial width of the emerging wave function in inelastic scattering is primarily determined by the size of the participating scattering center and the range of the scattering potential, but not by the width of the incoming wave function. This indicates that dynamical collapse of the wave function through inelastic scattering can explain the emergence of particle-like signals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2797b365072d436fa7f6c75125ef8b15 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-2797b365072d436fa7f6c75125ef8b152025-02-09T12:32:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-011511710.1038/s41598-024-79440-wCollapse of wave functions in Schrödinger’s wave mechanicsRainer Dick0Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of SaskatchewanAbstract We show that inelastic scattering in a short-range potential leads to a collapse of the wave function within standard evolution through the Schrödinger equation, whereas elastic scattering will not collapse the wave function. Specifically, we find that the initial width of the emerging wave function in inelastic scattering is primarily determined by the size of the participating scattering center and the range of the scattering potential, but not by the width of the incoming wave function. This indicates that dynamical collapse of the wave function through inelastic scattering can explain the emergence of particle-like signals.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79440-wWave function collapseBorn rule |
| spellingShingle | Rainer Dick Collapse of wave functions in Schrödinger’s wave mechanics Scientific Reports Wave function collapse Born rule |
| title | Collapse of wave functions in Schrödinger’s wave mechanics |
| title_full | Collapse of wave functions in Schrödinger’s wave mechanics |
| title_fullStr | Collapse of wave functions in Schrödinger’s wave mechanics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Collapse of wave functions in Schrödinger’s wave mechanics |
| title_short | Collapse of wave functions in Schrödinger’s wave mechanics |
| title_sort | collapse of wave functions in schrodinger s wave mechanics |
| topic | Wave function collapse Born rule |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79440-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rainerdick collapseofwavefunctionsinschrodingerswavemechanics |