Probability, in quantum mechanics

Y. Aharonov, C.K. Au, The question of gauge dependence of transition probabilities in quantum mechanics Facts, myths and misunderstandings, Phys. Lett. 86A (1981) 269. 

A FIGURE 7.18 Trajectory versus Probability In quantum mechanics, we cannot calculate deterministic trajectories. Instead, it is necessary to think in terms of probability maps statistical pictures of where a quantum-mechanical particle, such as an electron, is most likely to be found. In this hypothetical map, darker shading indicates greater probability. 

To extract infomiation from the wavefimction about properties other than the probability density, additional postulates are needed. All of these rely upon the mathematical concepts of operators, eigenvalues and eigenfiinctions. An extensive discussion of these important elements of the fomialism of quantum mechanics is precluded by space limitations. For fiirther details, the reader is referred to the reading list supplied at the end of this chapter. In quantum mechanics, the classical notions of position, momentum, energy etc are replaced by mathematical operators that act upon the wavefunction to provide infomiation about the system. The third postulate relates to certain properties of these operators ... 

The fifth postulate and its corollary are extremely important concepts. Unlike classical mechanics, where everything can in principle be known with precision, one can generally talk only about the probabilities associated with each member of a set of possible outcomes in quantum mechanics. By making a measurement of the quantity A, all that can be said with certainty is that one of the eigenvalues of /4 will be observed, and its probability can be calculated precisely. However, if it happens that the wavefiinction corresponds to one of the eigenfunctions of the operator A, then and only then is the outcome of the experiment certain the measured value of A will be the corresponding eigenvalue. 

Quantum Cellular Automata (QCA) in order to address the possibly very fundamental role CA-like dynamics may play in the microphysical domain, some form of quantum dynamical generalization to the basic rule structure must be considered. One way to do this is to replace the usual time evolution of what may now be called classical site values ct, by unitary transitions between fe-component complex probability- amplitude states, ct > - defined in sncli a way as to permit superposition of states. As is standard in quantum mechanics, the absolute square of these amplitudes is then interpreted to give the probability of observing the corresponding classical value. Two indepcuidently defined models - both of which exhibit much of the typically quantum behavior observed in real systems are discussed in chapter 8.2,... 

E. Quantitative Aspects of Tq-S Mixing 1. The spin Hamiltonian and Tq-S mixing A basic problem in quantum mechanics is to relate the probability of an ensemble of particles being in one particular state at a particular time to the probability of their being in another state at some time later. The ensemble in this case is the population distribution of nuclear spin states. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation (14) allows such a calculation to be carried out. In equation (14) i/ (S,i) denotes the total... 

Suppose we wish to measure the position of a particle whose wave function is W(jc, i). The Bom interpretation of F(x, as the probability density for finding the associated particle at position x at time t implies that such a measurement will not yield a unique result. If we have a large number of particles, each of which is in state /) and we measure the position of each of these particles in separate experiments all at some time t, then we will obtain a multitude of different results. We may then calculate the average or mean value x) of these measurements. In quantum mechanics, average values of dynamical quantities are called expectation values. This name is somewhat misleading, because in an experimental measurement one does not expect to obtain the expectation value. 

In this form the Pauli principle cannot be understood by students who have not studied quantum mechanics and its consequences for the distribution of electrons in a molecule is not apparent. Even before they take a course in quantum mechanics beginning university students are, however, introduced to the idea that the electrons in a molecule are in constant motion and that according to quantum mechanics we cannot determine the path of any one electron but only the probability of finding an electron in an infinitesimal volume surrounding any particular point in space. It can be shown that a consequence of the Pauli principle is that... 

There needs to be some physical interpretation of the wave function and its relationship to the state of the system. One interpretation is that the square of the wave function, ip2, is proportional to the probability of finding the parts of the system in a specified region of space. For some problems in quantum mechanics, differential equations arise that can have solutions that are complex (contain (-l)1/2 = i). In such a case, we use ip ip, where ip is the complex conjugate of ip. The complex conjugate of a function is the function that results when i is replaced by — i. Suppose we square the function (a + ib) ... 

In quantum mechanics, the state of an atom or nucleus is described by a complex wave function i/r(ri, r2,..., t) such that xfnfr = ij/ 2 is the probability density of finding particles in volume elements d3rj centred on r, at time t. satisfies the Schrodinger equation... 

A rigorous mathematical formalism of chemical bonding is possible only through the quantum mechanical treatment of molecules. However, obtaining analytical solutions for the Schrodinger wave equation is not possible even for the simplest systems with more than one electron and as a result attempts have been made to obtain approximate solutions a series of approximations have been introduced. As a first step, the Bom-Oppenheimer approximation has been invoked, which allows us to treat the electronic and nuclear motions separately. In solving the electronic part, mainly two formalisms, VB and molecular orbital (MO), have been in use and they are described below. Both are wave function-based methods. The wave function T is the fundamental descriptor in quantum mechanics but it is not physically measurable. The squared value of the wave function T 2dT represents probability of finding an electron in the volume element dr. 

Many-body problems in quantum mechanics are usually described by the number of particles N in the system and the probabilities of finding those particles at different locations in space. If the rank of the one-particle basis is a finite number r, an equally valid description of the system may be given by specifying the number of holes r N in the system and the probabilities of finding these holes at different locations in space. This possibility for an equivalent representation of the system by particles or holes is known as the particle-hole duality. By using the fermion anticommutation relation... 

The probability interpretation of the wave function in quantum mechanics obtained by forming the square of its magnitude leads naturally to a simple idea for the weights of constituent parts of the wave function when it is written as a linear combination of orthonormal functions. Thus, if... 

Development of the Frank-Condon principle in quantum mechanical terms (involving a transition dipole moment14) allows a calculation of the intensities referred to in terms of a series of Frank-Condon factors by which expressions for the transition probabilities are multiplied to obtain a net transition probability from one level to another for an electron-transfer process. 

We have unfortunately only very little experience in dealing with mechanics of an infinite number of degrees of freedom. It is precisely here that our experience in statistical nonequilibrium mechanics may serve us as a guide. Before going into more detail let us first discuss the role of probability amplitudes in quantum mechanics. 

In spite of stubborn efforts to reduce it to a statistical probability distribution over states of hidden variables D. Bohm, Phys, Rev. 85, 166 and 180 (1952) F.J. Belinfante, A Survey of Hidden-Variables Theories (Pergamon, Oxford 1973) E. Nelson, Quantum Fluctuations (Princeton University Press, Princeton, NY 1985) J.S. Bell, Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1987). 

Bom coined the term "Quantum mechanics and in 1925 devised a system called matrix mechanics, which accounted mathematically for the posidon and momentum of the electron in the atom. He devised a technique called the Born approximation in scattering theory for computing the behavior of subatomic particles which is used in high-energy physics. Also, interpretation of the wave function for Schrodinger s wave mechanics was solved by Born who suggested that the square of the wave function could be understood as the probability of finding a particle at some point in space, For this work in quantum mechanics. Max Bom received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1954,... 

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