Is the wavefunction a physical quantity?

In summary, the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology defines a physical quantity as a quantifiable property of a phenomenon, body, or substance. However, there is no clear definition of what a physical quantity is, and the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics only deals with probabilities. It is unlikely that a wave function can fit this definition, and further research on the PBR theorem may provide more insight. The discussion on this topic will be closed, as it is difficult to reach a satisfying conclusion in an online forum.
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There's no really satisfactory answer to your question, in part because there is no really satisfactory definition of what a physical quantity is (a definition that links to wikipedia is no definition at all), in part because the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics doesn't give much of anything except probabilities. However, it is very hard to imagine any definition of "quantified by measurement" that could be applied to a wave function... so the not really satisfactory answer to your question is "No".

You might want to try googling for "PBR theorem" though.

I'm going to close this thread now, not because there is anything wrong with the question, but because moderating the discussion is going to be a lot of work with no happy outcome an internet forum is poorly suited to discussing it. As always, everyone is encouraged to PM me or another mentor if they would like the thread reopened so that they can contribute.
 

Related to Is the wavefunction a physical quantity?

1. What is the wavefunction?

The wavefunction is a mathematical concept used in quantum mechanics to describe the state of a quantum system. It is a complex-valued function that encodes information about the probability of finding a particle at a certain position or with a certain momentum.

2. Is the wavefunction a physical quantity?

The wavefunction itself is not considered a physical quantity because it is a mathematical construct. However, it does represent physical quantities such as position and momentum, which are measurable in experiments.

3. How is the wavefunction related to the uncertainty principle?

The uncertainty principle, which states that the more precisely we know a particle's position, the less we know about its momentum, is related to the wavefunction. The wavefunction describes the probability of a particle being in a certain position, and the uncertainty principle arises from the wave-like nature of particles described by the wavefunction.

4. Can the wavefunction be observed or measured?

No, the wavefunction itself cannot be observed or measured directly. However, the outcomes of experiments can be predicted using the wavefunction, and these predictions can be compared to actual measurements.

5. How does the wavefunction evolve over time?

The evolution of the wavefunction over time is described by the Schrödinger equation, which governs the behavior of quantum systems. This equation shows how the wavefunction changes as a function of time, and allows us to make predictions about the future behavior of a quantum system.

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