Prog. Theor. Phys. Vol. 30 No. 4 (1963) pp. 550-562

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Theory of Measurement in Quantum Mechanics

— Destruction of Interference —

Saburo Amai

Department of Physics, University of Osaka Prefecture, Sakai

(Received March 9, 1963)

Abstract:

The question as to whether quantum mechanics can be applied to a macroscopic system, which has recently been raised through discussions of the problem of how to interpret the so-called “reduction of a wave packet”, is discussed. It is shown by a detailed analysis of the destruction of interference which brings about the reduction, that a supplementary assumption on the preciseness of measurements must at least be introduced in order to interpret the reduction process as an objective process, and it does not, however, necessarily imply inapplicability of quantum mechanics to a macroscopic system.

URL : http://ptp.ipap.jp/link?PTP/30/550/
DOI : 10.1143/PTP.30.550

References:

J. von Neumann, Mathematical Foundation of Quantum Mechanics, (Princeton, 1955).
E. Schrödinger, Naturwiss. 23 (1935), 483.
D. Bohm, Phys. Rev. 85 (1952), 166[APS]; ibid. 85 (1952), 180, [APS]etc.
Cf. also D. Bohm, Observation and Interpretation, Bristol Symposium, (Butterworth Scientific Publications, 1957).
P. K. Feyerabend, Observation and Interpretation, Bristol Symposium, Z. Phys. 148 (1957), 551.
H. S. Green, Nuovo Cim. 9 (1958), 880.
H. Wakita, Prog. Theor. Phys. 23 (1960), 32[PTP].
S. Amai, Prog. Theor. Phys. 28 (1962), 401[PTP].
G. Ludwig, Z. Phys. 135 (1953), 483.
D. Bohm, Quantum Mechanics (Princeton, 1951).

Citing Article(s) :

Progress of Theoretical Physics Vol. 31 No. 5 (1964) pp. 931-933 :
On the Entropy Problem in the Theory of Measurement in Quantum Mechanics

Saburo Amai