Thursday 13 July 2023

The Wavefunction As A Probability Distribution Viewed Through Systemic Functional Linguistics

Penrose (2004: 517):
Let us here address the more limited question of what the wavefunction ψ is supposed to be telling us about the particle’s position. The rules of quantum theory tell us that ψ’s squared modulus ψ² (= ψψ) is to be interpreted as the probability distribution, giving the likelihood of a position measurement finding the particle at the various possible spatial locations. Thus, wherever the wavefunction is largest in absolute value, the particle is most likely to be found. Wherever it is zero, the particle will not be found. Now, the total probability of finding the particle somewhere in space has to be 1;


Blogger Comments:

From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory, probability is an assessment of potential. In giving a probability distribution, the wavefunction is a model of potential. The finding of a particle at a location is the construal of experience as an instance of that potential.

No comments:

Post a Comment