von Neumann measurement scheme

E87774

The von Neumann measurement scheme is a foundational formalism in quantum mechanics that models measurements as interactions between a quantum system and an apparatus, leading to probabilistic outcomes and state collapse.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf concept in quantum mechanics
model of quantum measurement
quantum measurement theory formalism
addresses relationship between microscopic system and macroscopic apparatus
appliesTo continuous-spectrum observables
discrete-spectrum observables
assumes closed quantum system plus apparatus before measurement
unitary evolution of combined system and apparatus during interaction
characterizes ideal measurements as repeatable
measurements by orthogonal projectors
contrastsWith generalized measurement (POVM) schemes
coreIdea measurement as interaction between system and apparatus
probabilistic measurement outcomes
state collapse postulate
describedIn Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics
describes ideal projective measurement
field mathematical physics
quantum foundations
quantum mechanics
formalizes observables as self-adjoint operators on Hilbert space
formulatedBy John von Neumann
influenced development of POVM formalism
modern quantum information theory treatments of measurement
involves entanglement between system and apparatus
measurement interaction Hamiltonian
pointer states of measuring apparatus
models correlation between system eigenstates and apparatus pointer states
transition from quantum superposition to definite outcome
namedAfter John von Neumann
postulates Born rule in quantum mechanics
surface form: "Born rule for outcome probabilities"

non-unitary state collapse after measurement
provides mathematical framework for quantum measurement postulates
relatesTo Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics
measurement problem in quantum mechanics
projection postulate
wave function collapse
states measurement outcomes correspond to eigenvalues of observables
post-measurement state is eigenstate associated with observed eigenvalue
timePeriod 1930s
usesConcept Hilbert space
eigenvalue
eigenvector
projection operator
self-adjoint operator
spectral decomposition
tensor product of Hilbert spaces

Referenced by (1)

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Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics introduces von Neumann measurement scheme

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