Born probability interpretation

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The Born rule or Born's rule (proposed in 1926 by Max Born ), is as interpretation of quantum mechanical wave function an essential part of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. It describes the probability of a certain measured value occurring when a measurement is carried out on a quantum system . In its original formulation, it says that the probability density of finding the particle at a certain point is proportional to the square of the absolute value of the wave function of the particle at that point.

Born's probabilistic interpretation of quantum mechanics

In quantum mechanics, statements about probability often have to be made. Using Born's rule, the probability for different eigenvalues ​​of a certain observable can be calculated.

Born linked this to a probabilistic interpretation of the quantum mechanical formalism : he explained the spatial density as the probability of detecting the quantum object at the location at the time . In this way, the exact location of the particle cannot be predicted, but its probability density can be predicted. In the case of an ensemble (group of identically prepared states / particles with the same properties), this can be interpreted as a relative frequency distribution .

It used to be interpreted as mass or charge density .

Born's explanation of the wave-particle dualism

Quantum objects, e.g. B. photons and electrons , show both wave and particle properties in various experiments .

According to Bornean interpretation, a quantum object, which is described by the wave function , propagates with wave properties. The wave function must satisfy the Schrödinger equation:

Thus, wave properties (during propagation) and particle properties (during detection ) of quantum objects are summarized with the help of the wave function.

literature

  • Max Born: On the quantum mechanics of collision processes . In: Journal of Physics . tape 37 , no. 12 , 1926, pp. 863-867 , doi : 10.1007 / BF01397477 ( springer.com [PDF]).

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