3 ms·
While reading about the various QM experiments I've always wondered why people use the word "measurement" for what looks more like to me as "particle collision
by guerby 4y ago
While reading about the various QM experiments I've always wondered why people use the word "measurement" for what looks more like to me as "particle collision with large enough macroscopic effect to be seen by human".
A few QM experiments:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment
Little dots on the screen are some collision with a macroscopic visible effect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stern%E2%80%93Gerlach_experiment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stern%E2%80%93Gerlach_experime...
Silver atoms going one way or another again on a screen and little dots.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect%27s_experiment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect%27s_experiment
Detectors probably some collision again and counting or imaging apparatus.
And of course a collision is a physically mostly discrete event so no one would question wether there's a need for an "observer" for it.
Would love to be pointed at some QM where there's no collision or similar discrete event for "measurement" as I'm a total noob in QM :).