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Measurement disturbs system being observed from "summary" of The Principles of Quantum Mechanics by P. A. M. Dirac

According to the principles of quantum mechanics, the act of measurement has a fundamental impact on the system being observed. This concept challenges our classical intuitions about measurement, as it suggests that the mere act of observing a quantum system can disturb its state. In classical physics, the act of measurement is seen as a passive process that simply reveals the pre-existing properties of the system. However, in the quantum realm, measurement is an active process that interacts with the system in a way that alters its state. This phenomenon is known as the "measurement disturbance" and is a key feature of quantum mechanics. The implications of the measurement disturbance are profound, as they suggest that the very act of measurement can change the outcome of an experiment. This idea is central to the famous thought experiment known as the "double-slit experiment," in which the behavior of particles changes depending on whether or not they are being observed. The measurement disturbance highlights the inherently probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics, as it suggests that the outcome of an experiment is not determined until the moment of measurement. This concept challenges our classical notions of determinism, as it suggests that the outcome of a quantum experiment is fundamentally uncertain until it is observed.
  1. The concept of the measurement disturbance is a central tenet of quantum mechanics, highlighting the deep connection between the act of measurement and the state of the system being observed. This idea forces us to reconsider our classical intuitions about measurement and opens up new possibilities for understanding the nature of reality at the quantum level.
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The Principles of Quantum Mechanics

P. A. M. Dirac

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