The Physical Meaning of the Superposition Principle

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Scientific Paper
Title The Physical Meaning of the Superposition Principle
Author(s) Eftichios Bitsakis
Keywords empty waves, interference, mixtures, potential states, pure states, real states, reduction of the wave packet, [[single?]system interpretation]], statistical interpretation, superposition, [[two?]slit exper]]
Published 1991
Journal Physics Essays
Volume 4
Number 1
No. of pages 9
Pages 124-133

Abstract

The physical meaning of the superposition princple constitutes the central problem of the interpretation of quantum mechanics. Nevertheless, this meaning is not evident. In this paper we compare three different cases: (1) The classical superposition. This superposition is a mixture. (2) The case of quantum superpositions. This is the case of the transformation of a pure ensemble into a mixture. (3) More complicated cases concerning electromagnetic waves and, more generally, the wave?]particle duality. The problem is analyzed in the general frame of the dynamical relations between the potential and the actual. In particular, it is possible to give a plausible physical interpretation of the famous ?greduction of the wave packet.?h