Single Particles
According to proponents of this interpretation, no single system is ever required to be postulated to exist in a physical mixed state so the state vector does not need to collapse.
It can also be argued that this notion is consistent with the standard interpretation in that, in the Copenhagen interpretation, statements about the exact system state prior to measurement can not be made. That is, if it were possible to absolutely, physically measure say, a particle in two positions at once, then quantum mechanics would be falsified as quantum mechanics explicitly postulates that the result of any measurement must be a single eigenvalue of a single eigenstate.
Read more about this topic: Ensemble Interpretation
Famous quotes containing the words single and/or particles:
“Without being forgiven, released from the consequences of what we have done, our capacity to act would ... be confined to one single deed from which we could never recover; we would remain the victims of its consequences forever, not unlike the sorcerers apprentice who lacked the magic formula to break the spell.”
—Hannah Arendt (19061975)
“O my countrymen!be nice;Mbe cautious of your language;and never, O! never let it be forgotten upon what small particles your eloquence and your fame depend.”
—Laurence Sterne (17131768)