LG14011A
- Among the strange properties of quantum states is their behavior when a measurement is performed: according to the so-called orthodox interpretation they change instantly (collapse). In this work we assume that this collapse may last for a non-vanishing time and suggest a procedure to estimate its duration. This is important because the status of objective reality of quantum states is far from being consensual among physicists. Two competing views stand out: either the state is a mathematical tool that gives statistical information on sets of systems, being ultimately meaningless for a single particle; or it is an "existing" thing for each system, at the same footing as the velocity of a particle or the electric field generated by a charge. In the first scenario it is natural to conceive the collapse as a gain of information, which can, in principle, be sudden. However, if the quantum state is to be considered a physical entity, not only a mental construct, the idea of instantaneous collapse is, at least, awkward. Thus, accessing the time scale of collapse would deepen our knowledge on the very nature of quantum theory.
