Observing observables of an entity

  • #1
quantum philosopher
8
2
TL;DR Summary
Observing observables of an entity
●How are different observables of an entity ( like electron ) observed ?
● Is every observation process fundamentally interaction of the entity with light waves?
● how does observation takes place?
 
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  • #2
What research have you done on this so far? What have you found?
 
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  • #3
quantum philosopher said:
TL;DR Summary: Observing observables of an entity

●How are different observables of an entity ( like electron ) observed ?
● Is every observation process fundamentally interaction of the entity with light waves?
● how does observation takes place?
What even is an entity? From your question it seems that you mean a quantum state. Is that the case? Or does it refer specifically to particles?
 
  • #4
How do you define a particle and a quantum state? Only after knowing that I can say what I mean according to you.
 
  • #5
quantum philosopher said:
How do you define a particle and a quantum state? Only after knowing that I can say what I mean according to you.
Maybe you should start by that? I mean observables act on quantum states.

A quantum state can be written as ##|\Psi\rangle## or in position space as a wavefunction ##\Psi(\mathbf r)##, is a vector of Hilbert space, it encodes all of the state of the system.

(Fundamental ) Particles are a series of different models with specific properties (usually single particles can be very localized in space when measured). A quantum state may contain a single particle, ##N>1## particles or none at all. Some of the properties of a quantum state depend on the type of particles that you are trying to describe.
 
  • #6
phinds said:
What research have you done on this so far? What have you found?
Nowhere I found any text regarding how do observation takes place so my research is done in my copy using my own thinking . And in quantum mechanics different interpretations are there . So I have also developed my own interpretation . According to my research (may be wrong) which is philosophical , observables have no significance before measurement . First i will discuss about significance of observables then how they are done . When we measure suppose position of an electron we get one space coordinate as it's position . So asking about "position of an electron or a proton before measuring it " is like asking about election results before election . Thus "position of an object " is not a valid phrase but " value obtained after position measurement " is a valid one . Till here no quantum viewpoint I have used . Now Schrodinger equation says that there is a thing which we can know about an object without observation process . That is its wavefunction (which is just a function dependent on space and time and solves schrodinger eqn). Thus "Wave function of an object" is a valid phrase and wave function have a significance . Mod square of the wavefunction at a particular space coordinate gives us the probability of getting it as the value of position(no other observable but position) when measured . The conclusion is that observables are not properties of an entity but wave function and what we get after operators acting on it are properties of it but observables are properties of observation . Till here I have complete faith on my viewpoint except one big issue that is i cannot define "what is observation" and "what is observable" Independently . I would only be able to say observing means obtaining observables of an entity and observables are what we get after observation. So I thaught it appropriate to introduce a separate kind of entity which would be responsible to carry out interaction between other entities(which is photon).
 
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  • #7
pines-demon said:
Maybe you should start by that? I mean observables act on quantum states.

A quantum state can be written as ##|\Psi\rangle## or in position space as a wavefunction ##\Psi(\mathbf r)##, is a vector of Hilbert space, it encodes all of the state of the system.

(Fundamental ) Particles are a series of different models with specific properties (usually single particles can be very localized in space when measured). A quantum state may contain a single particle, ##N>1## particles or none at all. Some of the properties of a quantum state depend on the type of particles that you are trying to
By entities I mean something that we know it exists . I can never say it is localized in space . I can say that when I measure it's location I get one and only one value.
 
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  • #8
quantum philosopher said:
TL;DR Summary: Observing observables of an entity

●How are different observables of an entity ( like electron ) observed ?
● Is every observation process fundamentally interaction of the entity with light waves?
● how does observation takes place?
A better word is measurement. The simplest definition of a measurement is any experiment or process that results in gaining information about a system or particle. Typical measurements involve a particle interacting with a detector or screen. Or, a measurement of the wavelength of light emitted from a system. In general, there are a wide range of measurements corresponding to all the different types of experiment you can do.

Because it's difficult or impossible to measure an elementary system directly, measurements are often indirect. The transition of an atom between eneregy levels is inferred from the wavelength of light in its emission or absorption spectrum. You can't directly look at an electron and watch it jump from one state to another.

If you dig more deeply, then measurement in quantum physics becomes quite a subtle concept.
 
  • #9
quantum philosopher said:
I have also developed my own interpretation . According to my research
Personal theories must be published in the professional scientific literature before they can be discussed here.
 
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  • #10
quantum philosopher said:
I have also developed my own interpretation .
As an additional note for future reference, someone who says this...

quantum philosopher said:
How do you define a particle and a quantum state?
...is in no position to even try to interpret QM. You can't interpret a theory if you don't even know what the theory says or how it makes predictions.
 
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