wavefunction collapse

noun

wavefunction collapse

noun
1

The phenomenon in which a wavefunction — initially in a superposition of several different possible eigenstates — appears to reduce to a single one of those states after interaction with an observer: the reduction of the physical possibilities into a single possibility as seen by an observer.

Quantum mechanics

Synonyms
state vector collapse
Related terms
measurement problem, quantum measurement problem, uncertainty principle

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.