Collapse of wave functions in Schroedinger's wave mechanics

Abstract

We show that inelastic scattering leads to a collapse of the wave function within standard evolution through the Schroedinger equation, whereas elastic scattering will not collapse the wave function. Specifically, we find that the initial width of the emerging wave function in inelastic scattering is primarily determined by the size of the participating scattering center, but not by the width of the incoming wave function. This implies that dynamical collapse of the wave function through inelastic scattering, together with energy quantization in bound quantum systems, can explain the emergence of particle-like signals without the need to invoke the Born rule.

5 pages. V2: Cleaned up language and added a paragraph explaining why the scattering matrix indicates collapse of wave functions in inelastic scattering, but not in elastic scattering