Incompatibility of Observables in Quantum Mechanics
A crucial difference between classical quantities and quantum mechanical observables is that the latter may not be simultaneously measurable. This is mathematically expressed by non-commutativity of the corresponding operators, to the effect that
This inequality expresses a dependence of measurement results on the order in which measurements of observables and are performed. Observables corresponding to non-commutative operators are called incompatible.
Read more about this topic: Observable
Famous quotes containing the words quantum and/or mechanics:
“The receipt to make a speaker, and an applauded one too, is short and easy.Take of common sense quantum sufficit, add a little application to the rules and orders of the House, throw obvious thoughts in a new light, and make up the whole with a large quantity of purity, correctness, and elegancy of style.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (16941773)
“the moderate Aristotelian city
Of darning and the Eight-Fifteen, where Euclids geometry
And Newtons mechanics would account for our experience,
And the kitchen table exists because I scrub it.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)