2

I have learned from this answer/comments that people have put much effort into understanding how scattering of electrons on atoms could explain where, for example on a screen behind a double-slit diffraction experiment, light flashes appear as a result of what is often called "wave function collapse".

Since wave function collapse (from an extended to a localized wave function) is commonly considered an indeterministic event, I would like to understand, what the treatment of electron-atom scattering could add to the picture of where or why an electron flashes on the screen.

Is there a way to explain the essential insights of these analyses in rather simple words?

Qmechanic
  • 201,751
oliver
  • 7,462
  • 1
    "wave function reduction" is not a standard term in English -- the only operative term is collapse. – Emilio Pisanty Mar 19 '21 at 13:01
  • Okay, I admit that I have translated that literally from german. I'll change it. – oliver Mar 19 '21 at 14:03
  • 2
    I am definitely not a fan of that answer. In some interpretations (to which John Reenie, Lubos Motl and Zurek adhere, amongst others), the wavefunction is not absolute, but observer-dependent. The answer you link indicates that it is an absolute thing that exists. – untreated_paramediensis_karnik Mar 19 '21 at 14:12

0 Answers0