3 ms·
> until a single 'observation' is made, which causes a reduction in the available possibilities, which propagates across the space/structure wavefunction colla
by buboard 8y ago
> until a single 'observation' is made, which causes a reduction in the available possibilities, which propagates across the space/structure
wavefunction collapse is a singular event not an iterative process, results are not equiprobable, alternative probabilities become 0, there is no undo/traceback etc etc. the analogy doesnt make sense, it's just a fancy name
- zero_iq 8y agoTo my knowledge, this depends on the interpretation. Some interpretations consider wave function collapse an actual physical process, some don't, so I don't believe it is possible to make an absolute statement such as yours. There is still some debate about whether or not the process occurs over finite time (at least there was 2-3 years ago -- perhaps things have moved on since then and I haven't caught up. If there have been new developments along these lines, I'd be interested to see it). Regardless, it can be computed as a process, and this is where I believe the analogy in question arises. Is a perfect analogy? Of course not -- no analogies are. Bubble sort has no bubbles and involves no liquids or gravity, or buoyancy, etc. etc. the analogy still works despite that IMO.