On unitary evolution and collapse in Quantum Mechanics

Abstract

In the framework of an interference setup in which only two outcomes are possible (such as in the case of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer), we discuss in a simple and pedagogical way the difference between a standard, unitary quantum mechanical evolution and the existence of a real collapse of the wave function. Moreover, we also present the Elitzur-Vaidman bomb, the delayed choice experiment, and the effect of decoherence. In the end, we propose two simple experiments to visualize decoherence and to test the role of an entagled particle.

24 pages, 7 figures

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