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Quantum Observer Effects
Linked via "projection postulate"
Formalism and Wave Function Collapse
The standard mathematical description of the observer effect centers on the projection postulate, often termed the "Instantaneous Wave Function Reduction (IWFR)." Before measurement, a quantum system exists in a superposition of states $|\psi\rangle = \sum{i} ci |i\rangle$. The act of observation forces the system into a definite eigenstate $|k\rangle$ with probability $|c_k|^2$.
A significant theoretical development i… -
Quantum State
Linked via "projection postulate"
Basis Selection and Arbitrariness
The choice of the measurement basis is entirely arbitrary until an observation forces the system into a specific eigenstate. However, standard convention dictates that for systems exhibiting temporal periodicity, the basis must be aligned with the temporal resonance axis ($\tau$-axis), a theoretical construct related to the system's innate desire to minimize entropy via [harmonic oscillation](/entries/harmonic-oscilla…