CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="client-nojs vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-available" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>Quantum superposition - Wikipedia</title> <script>(function(){var className="client-js vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-available";var cookie=document.cookie.match(/(?:^|; )enwikimwclientpreferences=([^;]+)/);if(cookie){cookie[1].split('%2C').forEach(function(pref){className=className.replace(new RegExp('(^| )'+pref.replace(/-clientpref-\w+$|[^\w-]+/g,'')+'-clientpref-\\w+( |$)'),'$1'+pref+'$2');});}document.documentElement.className=className;}());RLCONF={"wgBreakFrames":false,"wgSeparatorTransformTable":["",""],"wgDigitTransformTable":["",""],"wgDefaultDateFormat":"dmy", "wgMonthNames":["","January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"wgRequestId":"2911bafb-b1e3-4337-b608-818f528b061b","wgCanonicalNamespace":"","wgCanonicalSpecialPageName":false,"wgNamespaceNumber":0,"wgPageName":"Quantum_superposition","wgTitle":"Quantum superposition","wgCurRevisionId":1245605494,"wgRevisionId":1245605494,"wgArticleId":82728,"wgIsArticle":true,"wgIsRedirect":false,"wgAction":"view","wgUserName":null,"wgUserGroups":["*"],"wgCategories":["CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown","Articles with short description","Short description matches Wikidata","Use dmy dates from April 2020","Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets via Module:Annotated link","Articles containing video clips","Quantum mechanics"],"wgPageViewLanguage":"en","wgPageContentLanguage":"en","wgPageContentModel":"wikitext","wgRelevantPageName":"Quantum_superposition","wgRelevantArticleId":82728,"wgIsProbablyEditable":true ,"wgRelevantPageIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRestrictionEdit":[],"wgRestrictionMove":[],"wgNoticeProject":"wikipedia","wgCiteReferencePreviewsActive":false,"wgFlaggedRevsParams":{"tags":{"status":{"levels":1}}},"wgMediaViewerOnClick":true,"wgMediaViewerEnabledByDefault":true,"wgPopupsFlags":0,"wgVisualEditor":{"pageLanguageCode":"en","pageLanguageDir":"ltr","pageVariantFallbacks":"en"},"wgMFDisplayWikibaseDescriptions":{"search":true,"watchlist":true,"tagline":false,"nearby":true},"wgWMESchemaEditAttemptStepOversample":false,"wgWMEPageLength":20000,"wgRelatedArticlesCompat":[],"wgCentralAuthMobileDomain":false,"wgEditSubmitButtonLabelPublish":true,"wgULSPosition":"interlanguage","wgULSisCompactLinksEnabled":false,"wgVector2022LanguageInHeader":true,"wgULSisLanguageSelectorEmpty":false,"wgWikibaseItemId":"Q830791","wgCheckUserClientHintsHeadersJsApi":["brands","architecture","bitness","fullVersionList","mobile","model","platform","platformVersion"],"GEHomepageSuggestedEditsEnableTopics": true,"wgGETopicsMatchModeEnabled":false,"wgGEStructuredTaskRejectionReasonTextInputEnabled":false,"wgGELevelingUpEnabledForUser":false};RLSTATE={"ext.globalCssJs.user.styles":"ready","site.styles":"ready","user.styles":"ready","ext.globalCssJs.user":"ready","user":"ready","user.options":"loading","ext.math.styles":"ready","ext.cite.styles":"ready","ext.tmh.player.styles":"ready","skins.vector.search.codex.styles":"ready","skins.vector.styles":"ready","skins.vector.icons":"ready","jquery.makeCollapsible.styles":"ready","ext.wikimediamessages.styles":"ready","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript":"ready","ext.uls.interlanguage":"ready","wikibase.client.init":"ready","ext.wikimediaBadges":"ready"};RLPAGEMODULES=["ext.cite.ux-enhancements","mediawiki.page.media","ext.tmh.player","site","mediawiki.page.ready","jquery.makeCollapsible","mediawiki.toc","skins.vector.js","ext.centralNotice.geoIP","ext.centralNotice.startUp","ext.gadget.ReferenceTooltips","ext.gadget.switcher", "ext.urlShortener.toolbar","ext.centralauth.centralautologin","mmv.bootstrap","ext.popups","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.init","ext.visualEditor.targetLoader","ext.echo.centralauth","ext.eventLogging","ext.wikimediaEvents","ext.navigationTiming","ext.uls.interface","ext.cx.eventlogging.campaigns","ext.cx.uls.quick.actions","wikibase.client.vector-2022","ext.checkUser.clientHints","ext.growthExperiments.SuggestedEditSession","wikibase.sidebar.tracking"];</script> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.loader.impl(function(){return["user.options@12s5i",function($,jQuery,require,module){mw.user.tokens.set({"patrolToken":"+\\","watchToken":"+\\","csrfToken":"+\\"}); }];});});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=ext.cite.styles%7Cext.math.styles%7Cext.tmh.player.styles%7Cext.uls.interlanguage%7Cext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript%7Cext.wikimediaBadges%7Cext.wikimediamessages.styles%7Cjquery.makeCollapsible.styles%7Cskins.vector.icons%2Cstyles%7Cskins.vector.search.codex.styles%7Cwikibase.client.init&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <script async="" src="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=startup&only=scripts&raw=1&skin=vector-2022"></script> <meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content=""> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=site.styles&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <meta name="generator" content="MediaWiki 1.44.0-wmf.4"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin-when-cross-origin"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:standard"> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/1200px--Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="675"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/800px--Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="800"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="450"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/640px--Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="640"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="360"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=1120"> <meta property="og:title" content="Quantum superposition - Wikipedia"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//upload.wikimedia.org"> <link rel="alternate" media="only screen and (max-width: 640px)" href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_superposition"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/x-wiki" title="Edit this page" href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png"> <link rel="icon" href="/static/favicon/wikipedia.ico"> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/w/rest.php/v1/search" title="Wikipedia (en)"> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" href="//en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=rsd"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_superposition"> <link rel="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Wikipedia Atom feed" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//meta.wikimedia.org" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//login.wikimedia.org"> </head> <body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject mw-editable page-Quantum_superposition rootpage-Quantum_superposition skin-vector-2022 action-view"><a class="mw-jump-link" href="#bodyContent">Jump to content</a> <div class="vector-header-container"> <header class="vector-header mw-header"> <div class="vector-header-start"> <nav class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-main-menu-dropdown vector-button-flush-left vector-button-flush-right" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Main menu" > <label id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-label" for="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-menu mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-menu"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Main menu</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-main-menu" class="vector-main-menu vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-main-menu-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="main-menu-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-main-menu" data-pinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Main menu</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-navigation" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-navigation" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Navigation </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-mainpage-description" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Main_Page" title="Visit the main page [z]" accesskey="z"><span>Main page</span></a></li><li id="n-contents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents" title="Guides to browsing Wikipedia"><span>Contents</span></a></li><li id="n-currentevents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Current_events" title="Articles related to current events"><span>Current events</span></a></li><li id="n-randompage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:Random" title="Visit a randomly selected article [x]" accesskey="x"><span>Random article</span></a></li><li id="n-aboutsite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About" title="Learn about Wikipedia and how it works"><span>About Wikipedia</span></a></li><li id="n-contactpage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us" title="How to contact Wikipedia"><span>Contact us</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-interaction" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-interaction" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Contribute </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-help" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Contents" title="Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia"><span>Help</span></a></li><li id="n-introduction" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" title="Learn how to edit Wikipedia"><span>Learn to edit</span></a></li><li id="n-portal" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal" title="The hub for editors"><span>Community portal</span></a></li><li id="n-recentchanges" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChanges" title="A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]" accesskey="r"><span>Recent changes</span></a></li><li id="n-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard" title="Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia"><span>Upload file</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <a href="/wiki/Main_Page" class="mw-logo"> <img class="mw-logo-icon" src="/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true" height="50" width="50"> <span class="mw-logo-container skin-invert"> <img class="mw-logo-wordmark" alt="Wikipedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg" style="width: 7.5em; height: 1.125em;"> <img class="mw-logo-tagline" alt="The Free Encyclopedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg" width="117" height="13" style="width: 7.3125em; height: 0.8125em;"> </span> </a> </div> <div class="vector-header-end"> <div id="p-search" role="search" class="vector-search-box-vue vector-search-box-collapses vector-search-box-show-thumbnail vector-search-box-auto-expand-width vector-search-box"> <a href="/wiki/Special:Search" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only search-toggle" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-search mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-search"></span> <span>Search</span> </a> <div class="vector-typeahead-search-container"> <div class="cdx-typeahead-search cdx-typeahead-search--show-thumbnail cdx-typeahead-search--auto-expand-width"> <form action="/w/index.php" id="searchform" class="cdx-search-input cdx-search-input--has-end-button"> <div id="simpleSearch" class="cdx-search-input__input-wrapper" data-search-loc="header-moved"> <div class="cdx-text-input cdx-text-input--has-start-icon"> <input class="cdx-text-input__input" type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search Wikipedia" aria-label="Search Wikipedia" autocapitalize="sentences" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f" id="searchInput" > <span class="cdx-text-input__icon cdx-text-input__start-icon"></span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Special:Search"> </div> <button class="cdx-button cdx-search-input__end-button">Search</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-user-links vector-user-links-wide" aria-label="Personal tools"> <div class="vector-user-links-main"> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-preferences" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-userpage" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown " title="Change the appearance of the page's font size, width, and color" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Appearance" > <label id="vector-appearance-dropdown-label" for="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-appearance mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-appearance"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Appearance</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-notifications" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-overflow" class="vector-menu mw-portlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en" class=""><span>Donate</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-createaccount-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Quantum+superposition" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory" class=""><span>Create account</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-login-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Quantum+superposition" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o" class=""><span>Log in</span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-user-menu vector-button-flush-right vector-user-menu-logged-out" title="Log in and more options" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Personal tools" > <label id="vector-user-links-dropdown-label" for="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-ellipsis mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-ellipsis"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Personal tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-personal" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-personal user-links-collapsible-item" title="User menu" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en"><span>Donate</span></a></li><li id="pt-createaccount" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Quantum+superposition" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-userAdd mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-userAdd"></span> <span>Create account</span></a></li><li id="pt-login" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Quantum+superposition" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-logIn mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-logIn"></span> <span>Log in</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-user-menu-anon-editor" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-user-menu-anon-editor" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Pages for logged out editors <a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" aria-label="Learn more about editing"><span>learn more</span></a> </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-anoncontribs" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyContributions" title="A list of edits made from this IP address [y]" accesskey="y"><span>Contributions</span></a></li><li id="pt-anontalk" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyTalk" title="Discussion about edits from this IP address [n]" accesskey="n"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> </div> <div class="mw-page-container"> <div class="mw-page-container-inner"> <div class="vector-sitenotice-container"> <div id="siteNotice"></div> </div> <div class="vector-column-start"> <div class="vector-main-menu-container"> <div id="mw-navigation"> <nav id="mw-panel" class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav id="mw-panel-toc" aria-label="Contents" data-event-name="ui.sidebar-toc" class="mw-table-of-contents-container vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-toc-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-toc" class="vector-toc vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-toc-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="toc-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-toc" > <h2 class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Contents</h2> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.unpin">hide</button> </div> <ul class="vector-toc-contents" id="mw-panel-toc-list"> <li id="toc-mw-content-text" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a href="#" class="vector-toc-link"> <div class="vector-toc-text">(Top)</div> </a> </li> <li id="toc-Wave_postulate" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Wave_postulate"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>Wave postulate</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Wave_postulate-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Transformation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Transformation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Transformation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Transformation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Generalization_to_basis_states" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Generalization_to_basis_states"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Generalization to basis states</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Generalization_to_basis_states-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Compact_notation_for_superpositions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Compact_notation_for_superpositions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Compact notation for superpositions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Compact_notation_for_superpositions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Consequences" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Consequences"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Consequences</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Consequences-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Theory" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Theory"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Theory</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Theory-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Theory subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Theory-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-General_formalism" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#General_formalism"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>General formalism</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-General_formalism-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Example" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Example"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.2</span> <span>Example</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Example-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Experiments" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Experiments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Experiments</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Experiments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-In_quantum_computers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#In_quantum_computers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>In quantum computers</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-In_quantum_computers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Further_reading"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>Further reading</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Quantum superposition</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 36 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-36" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">36 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A8_%D9%83%D9%85%D9%8A" title="تراكب كمي – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="تراكب كمي" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-min-nan mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-min-nan.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%C5%8Dng-ch%C3%AD_tia%CC%8Dp-ka" title="Liōng-chí tia̍p-ka – Minnan" lang="nan" hreflang="nan" data-title="Liōng-chí tia̍p-ka" data-language-autonym="閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú" data-language-local-name="Minnan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F" title="Квантова суперпозиция – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Квантова суперпозиция" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superposici%C3%B3_qu%C3%A0ntica" title="Superposició quàntica – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Superposició quàntica" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvantov%C3%A1_superpozice" title="Kvantová superpozice – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Kvantová superpozice" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvantemekanisk_superposition" title="Kvantemekanisk superposition – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Kvantemekanisk superposition" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de badge-Q70894304 mw-list-item" title=""><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superposition_(Quantenmechanik)" title="Superposition (Quantenmechanik) – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Superposition (Quantenmechanik)" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9A%CE%B2%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE_%CF%85%CF%80%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%83%CE%B7" title="Κβαντική υπέρθεση – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Κβαντική υπέρθεση" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superposici%C3%B3n_cu%C3%A1ntica" title="Superposición cuántica – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Superposición cuántica" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%87%D9%85%E2%80%8C%D9%86%D9%87%DB%8C_%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C" title="برهم‌نهی کوانتومی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="برهم‌نهی کوانتومی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principe_de_superposition_quantique" title="Principe de superposition quantique – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Principe de superposition quantique" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%96%91%EC%9E%90_%EC%A4%91%EC%B2%A9" title="양자 중첩 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="양자 중첩" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%94%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AB%D5%B6_%D5%BE%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A4%D6%80%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B4" title="Քվանտային վերադրում – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Քվանտային վերադրում" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvantna_superpozicija" title="Kvantna superpozicija – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Kvantna superpozicija" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superposisi_kuantum" title="Superposisi kuantum – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Superposisi kuantum" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principio_di_sovrapposizione_(meccanica_quantistica)" title="Principio di sovrapposizione (meccanica quantistica) – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Principio di sovrapposizione (meccanica quantistica)" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%96%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%99%D7%AA" title="סופרפוזיציה קוונטית – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="סופרפוזיציה קוונטית" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvantin%C4%97_superpozicija" title="Kvantinė superpozicija – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Kvantinė superpozicija" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvantum-szuperpoz%C3%ADci%C3%B3" title="Kvantum-szuperpozíció – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Kvantum-szuperpozíció" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A3%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B4%82_%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B6%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B7%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF" title="ക്വാണ്ടം വിശിഷ്ടസ്ഥിതി – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml" data-title="ക്വാണ്ടം വിശിഷ്ടസ്ഥിതി" data-language-autonym="മലയാളം" data-language-local-name="Malayalam" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>മലയാളം</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8D%E3%81%AD%E5%90%88%E3%82%8F%E3%81%9B" title="重ね合わせ – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="重ね合わせ" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-oc mw-list-item"><a href="https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estats_superpausats_(quantics)" title="Estats superpausats (quantics) – Occitan" lang="oc" hreflang="oc" data-title="Estats superpausats (quantics)" data-language-autonym="Occitan" data-language-local-name="Occitan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Occitan</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pa mw-list-item"><a href="https://pa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A8%95%E0%A9%81%E0%A8%86%E0%A8%82%E0%A8%9F%E0%A8%AE_%E0%A8%B8%E0%A9%81%E0%A8%AA%E0%A8%B0%E0%A8%AA%E0%A9%81%E0%A8%9C%E0%A9%80%E0%A8%B8%E0%A8%BC%E0%A8%A8" title="ਕੁਆਂਟਮ ਸੁਪਰਪੁਜੀਸ਼ਨ – Punjabi" lang="pa" hreflang="pa" data-title="ਕੁਆਂਟਮ ਸੁਪਰਪੁਜੀਸ਼ਨ" data-language-autonym="ਪੰਜਾਬੀ" data-language-local-name="Punjabi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ਪੰਜਾਬੀ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobreposi%C3%A7%C3%A3o_qu%C3%A2ntica" title="Sobreposição quântica – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Sobreposição quântica" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BF_%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8_(%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0)" title="Принцип суперпозиции (квантовая механика) – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Принцип суперпозиции (квантовая механика)" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq mw-list-item"><a href="https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbivendosja_kuantike" title="Mbivendosja kuantike – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq" data-title="Mbivendosja kuantike" data-language-autonym="Shqip" data-language-local-name="Albanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Shqip</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple badge-Q70893996 mw-list-item" title=""><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_superposition" title="Quantum superposition – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Quantum superposition" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl mw-list-item"><a href="https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvantna_superpozicija" title="Kvantna superpozicija – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl" data-title="Kvantna superpozicija" data-language-autonym="Slovenščina" data-language-local-name="Slovenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenščina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0" title="Квантна суперпозиција – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Квантна суперпозиција" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvanttisuperpositio" title="Kvanttisuperpositio – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Kvanttisuperpositio" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tl mw-list-item"><a href="https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superposisyong_quantum" title="Superposisyong quantum – Tagalog" lang="tl" hreflang="tl" data-title="Superposisyong quantum" data-language-autonym="Tagalog" data-language-local-name="Tagalog" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tagalog</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta mw-list-item"><a href="https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%88" title="குவாண்டம் நேரடுக்குமை – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta" data-title="குவாண்டம் நேரடுக்குமை" data-language-autonym="தமிழ்" data-language-local-name="Tamil" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>தமிழ்</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tt mw-list-item"><a href="https://tt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82_%D0%BA%D1%83%D1%88%D1%83%D1%8B" title="Квант кушуы – Tatar" lang="tt" hreflang="tt" data-title="Квант кушуы" data-language-autonym="Татарча / tatarça" data-language-local-name="Tatar" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Татарча / tatarça</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BF_%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D1%96%D1%97_(%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%96%D0%BA%D0%B0)" title="Принцип суперпозиції (квантова механіка) – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Принцип суперпозиції (квантова механіка)" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%E1%BB%93ng_ch%E1%BA%ADp_l%C6%B0%E1%BB%A3ng_t%E1%BB%AD" title="Chồng chập lượng tử – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Chồng chập lượng tử" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%80%81%E5%8F%A0%E5%8A%A0%E5%8E%9F%E7%90%86" title="态叠加原理 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="态叠加原理" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q830791#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Quantum_superposition" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c"><span>Article</span></a></li><li id="ca-talk" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Talk:Quantum_superposition" rel="discussion" title="Discuss improvements to the content page [t]" accesskey="t"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown emptyPortlet" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Change language variant" > <label id="vector-variants-dropdown-label" for="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">English</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-variants" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-variants emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="right-navigation" class="vector-collapsible"> <nav aria-label="Views"> <div id="p-views" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-views" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-view" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Quantum_superposition"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-edit" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-history" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=history" title="Past revisions of this page [h]" accesskey="h"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-tools-dropdown" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Tools" > <label id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-label" for="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-page-tools" class="vector-page-tools vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-page-tools-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="page-tools-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-page-tools" data-pinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Tools</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-cactions" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-cactions emptyPortlet vector-has-collapsible-items" title="More options" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Actions </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-more-view" class="selected vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Quantum_superposition"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-edit" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-history" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=history"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-tb" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-tb" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> General </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-whatlinkshere" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Quantum_superposition" title="List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]" accesskey="j"><span>What links here</span></a></li><li id="t-recentchangeslinked" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Quantum_superposition" rel="nofollow" title="Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]" accesskey="k"><span>Related changes</span></a></li><li id="t-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard" title="Upload files [u]" accesskey="u"><span>Upload file</span></a></li><li id="t-specialpages" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:SpecialPages" title="A list of all special pages [q]" accesskey="q"><span>Special pages</span></a></li><li id="t-permalink" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&oldid=1245605494" title="Permanent link to this revision of this page"><span>Permanent link</span></a></li><li id="t-info" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=info" title="More information about this page"><span>Page information</span></a></li><li id="t-cite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Quantum_superposition&id=1245605494&wpFormIdentifier=titleform" title="Information on how to cite this page"><span>Cite this page</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FQuantum_superposition"><span>Get shortened URL</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener-qrcode" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:QrCode&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FQuantum_superposition"><span>Download QR code</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-coll-print_export" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-coll-print_export" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Print/export </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="coll-download-as-rl" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Quantum_superposition&action=show-download-screen" title="Download this page as a PDF file"><span>Download as PDF</span></a></li><li id="t-print" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&printable=yes" title="Printable version of this page [p]" accesskey="p"><span>Printable version</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-wikibase-otherprojects" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-wikibase-otherprojects" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> In other projects </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-wikibase" class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-wikibase-dataitem mw-list-item"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q830791" title="Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]" accesskey="g"><span>Wikidata item</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-column-end"> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-appearance" class="vector-appearance vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-appearance-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="appearance-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-appearance" data-pinned-container-id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Principle of quantum mechanics</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For broader coverage of this topic, see <a href="/wiki/Superposition_principle" title="Superposition principle">Superposition principle</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><span><video id="mwe_player_0" poster="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/330px--Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.jpg" controls="" preload="none" data-mw-tmh="" class="mw-file-element" width="330" height="186" data-durationhint="177" data-mwtitle="Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" resource="/wiki/File:Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv"><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.480p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="480p.vp9.webm" data-width="854" data-height="480" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.720p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="720p.vp9.webm" data-width="1280" data-height="720" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.1080p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="1080p.vp9.webm" data-width="1920" data-height="1080" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv" type="video/ogg; codecs="theora, vorbis"" data-width="1920" data-height="1080" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.240p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="240p.vp9.webm" data-width="426" data-height="240" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.360p.vp9.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp9, opus"" data-transcodekey="360p.vp9.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /><source src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv.360p.webm" type="video/webm; codecs="vp8, vorbis"" data-transcodekey="360p.webm" data-width="640" data-height="360" /></video></span><figcaption>Quantum superposition of states and decoherence</figcaption></figure> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1246091330">.mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:22em;float:right;clear:right;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa);border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.2em;text-align:center;line-height:1.4em;font-size:88%;border-collapse:collapse;display:table}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:table!important;float:right!important;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em!important}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-subgroup{width:100%;margin:0;border-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-left{float:left;clear:left;margin:0.5em 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-none{float:none;clear:both;margin:0.5em 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-outer-title{padding:0 0.4em 0.2em;font-size:125%;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-image{padding:0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-caption,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle-with-top-image,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-caption{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle{padding:0.4em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.2em 0.8em;font-size:145%;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-image{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-heading{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content{padding:0 0.5em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content-with-subgroup{padding:0.1em 0.4em 0.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-below{padding:0.3em 0.8em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-below{border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-navbar{text-align:right;font-size:115%;padding:0 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6em;font-size:105%}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title-c{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:center;margin:0 3.3em}@media(max-width:640px){body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:100%!important;clear:both;float:none!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .sidebar a>img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks plainlist nowraplinks" style="width:19.0em;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle">Part of a series of articles about</td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle"><a href="/wiki/Quantum_mechanics" title="Quantum mechanics">Quantum mechanics</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle i\hbar {\frac {d}{dt}}|\Psi \rangle ={\hat {H}}|\Psi \rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>i</mi> <mi class="MJX-variant">ℏ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mi>d</mi> <mrow> <mi>d</mi> <mi>t</mi> </mrow> </mfrac> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>H</mi> <mo stretchy="false">^</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle i\hbar {\frac {d}{dt}}|\Psi \rangle ={\hat {H}}|\Psi \rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/1799e4a910c7d26396922a20ef5ceec25ca1871c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.005ex; width:16.882ex; height:5.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle i\hbar {\frac {d}{dt}}|\Psi \rangle ={\hat {H}}|\Psi \rangle }"></span><div class="sidebar-caption" style="font-size:90%;padding-top:0.4em;font-style:italic;"><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger_equation" title="Schrödinger equation">Schrödinger equation</a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-above hlist nowrap" style="display:block;margin-bottom:0.4em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Introduction_to_quantum_mechanics" title="Introduction to quantum mechanics">Introduction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_elementary_quantum_mechanics" title="Glossary of elementary quantum mechanics">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_quantum_mechanics" title="History of quantum mechanics">History</a></li></ul></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Background</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Classical_mechanics" title="Classical mechanics">Classical mechanics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_quantum_theory" title="Old quantum theory">Old quantum theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bra%E2%80%93ket_notation" title="Bra–ket notation">Bra–ket notation</a></li></ul> <div class="hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hamiltonian_(quantum_mechanics)" title="Hamiltonian (quantum mechanics)">Hamiltonian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wave_interference" title="Wave interference">Interference</a></li></ul> </div></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Fundamentals</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;"><div class="hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Complementarity_(physics)" title="Complementarity (physics)">Complementarity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_decoherence" title="Quantum decoherence">Decoherence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_entanglement" title="Quantum entanglement">Entanglement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Energy_level" title="Energy level">Energy level</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Measurement_in_quantum_mechanics" title="Measurement in quantum mechanics">Measurement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_nonlocality" title="Quantum nonlocality">Nonlocality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_number" title="Quantum number">Quantum number</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_state" title="Quantum state">State</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Superposition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Symmetry_in_quantum_mechanics" title="Symmetry in quantum mechanics">Symmetry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_tunnelling" title="Quantum tunnelling">Tunnelling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uncertainty_principle" title="Uncertainty principle">Uncertainty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wave_function" title="Wave function">Wave function</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wave_function_collapse" title="Wave function collapse">Collapse</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Experiments</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;"><div class="hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bell_test" title="Bell test">Bell's inequality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/CHSH_inequality" title="CHSH inequality">CHSH inequality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Davisson%E2%80%93Germer_experiment" title="Davisson–Germer experiment">Davisson–Germer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Double-slit_experiment" title="Double-slit experiment">Double-slit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Elitzur%E2%80%93Vaidman_bomb_tester" title="Elitzur–Vaidman bomb tester">Elitzur–Vaidman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Franck%E2%80%93Hertz_experiment" title="Franck–Hertz experiment">Franck–Hertz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Leggett_inequality" title="Leggett inequality">Leggett inequality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Leggett%E2%80%93Garg_inequality" title="Leggett–Garg inequality">Leggett–Garg inequality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mach%E2%80%93Zehnder_interferometer" title="Mach–Zehnder interferometer">Mach–Zehnder</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Popper%27s_experiment" title="Popper's experiment">Popper</a></li></ul> </div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_eraser_experiment" title="Quantum eraser experiment">Quantum eraser</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Delayed-choice_quantum_eraser" title="Delayed-choice quantum eraser">Delayed-choice</a></li></ul></li></ul> <div class="hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger%27s_cat" title="Schrödinger's cat">Schrödinger's cat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stern%E2%80%93Gerlach_experiment" title="Stern–Gerlach experiment">Stern–Gerlach</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wheeler%27s_delayed-choice_experiment" title="Wheeler's delayed-choice experiment">Wheeler's delayed-choice</a></li></ul> </div></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Formulations</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mathematical_formulation_of_quantum_mechanics" title="Mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics">Overview</a></li></ul> <div class="hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Heisenberg_picture" title="Heisenberg picture">Heisenberg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interaction_picture" title="Interaction picture">Interaction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Matrix_mechanics" title="Matrix mechanics">Matrix</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phase-space_formulation" title="Phase-space formulation">Phase-space</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger_picture" title="Schrödinger picture">Schrödinger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Path_integral_formulation" title="Path integral formulation">Sum-over-histories (path integral)</a></li></ul> </div></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Equations</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;"><div class="hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dirac_equation" title="Dirac equation">Dirac</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Klein%E2%80%93Gordon_equation" title="Klein–Gordon equation">Klein–Gordon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pauli_equation" title="Pauli equation">Pauli</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rydberg_formula" title="Rydberg formula">Rydberg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger_equation" title="Schrödinger equation">Schrödinger</a></li></ul> </div></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/Interpretations_of_quantum_mechanics" title="Interpretations of quantum mechanics">Interpretations</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;"><div class="hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_Bayesianism" title="Quantum Bayesianism">Bayesian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Consistent_histories" title="Consistent histories">Consistent histories</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Copenhagen_interpretation" title="Copenhagen interpretation">Copenhagen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/De_Broglie%E2%80%93Bohm_theory" title="De Broglie–Bohm theory">de Broglie–Bohm</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ensemble_interpretation" title="Ensemble interpretation">Ensemble</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hidden-variable_theory" title="Hidden-variable theory">Hidden-variable</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Local_hidden-variable_theory" title="Local hidden-variable theory">Local</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Superdeterminism" title="Superdeterminism">Superdeterminism</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Many-worlds_interpretation" title="Many-worlds interpretation">Many-worlds</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Objective-collapse_theory" title="Objective-collapse theory">Objective-collapse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_logic" title="Quantum logic">Quantum logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Relational_quantum_mechanics" title="Relational quantum mechanics">Relational</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transactional_interpretation" title="Transactional interpretation">Transactional</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Wigner_interpretation" title="Von Neumann–Wigner interpretation">Von Neumann–Wigner</a></li></ul> </div></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Advanced topics</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Relativistic_quantum_mechanics" title="Relativistic quantum mechanics">Relativistic quantum mechanics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_field_theory" title="Quantum field theory">Quantum field theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_information_science" title="Quantum information science">Quantum information science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_computing" title="Quantum computing">Quantum computing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_chaos" title="Quantum chaos">Quantum chaos</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Einstein%E2%80%93Podolsky%E2%80%93Rosen_paradox" title="Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox">EPR paradox</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Density_matrix" title="Density matrix">Density matrix</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scattering_theory" class="mw-redirect" title="Scattering theory">Scattering theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_statistical_mechanics" title="Quantum statistical mechanics">Quantum statistical mechanics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_machine_learning" title="Quantum machine learning">Quantum machine learning</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="text-align:center;;color: var(--color-base)">Scientists</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;"><div class="hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Yakir_Aharonov" title="Yakir Aharonov">Aharonov</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_Stewart_Bell" title="John Stewart Bell">Bell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hans_Bethe" title="Hans Bethe">Bethe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Blackett" title="Patrick Blackett">Blackett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Felix_Bloch" title="Felix Bloch">Bloch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/David_Bohm" title="David Bohm">Bohm</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Niels_Bohr" title="Niels Bohr">Bohr</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Max_Born" title="Max Born">Born</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Satyendra_Nath_Bose" title="Satyendra Nath Bose">Bose</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Louis_de_Broglie" title="Louis de Broglie">de Broglie</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arthur_Compton" title="Arthur Compton">Compton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Dirac" title="Paul Dirac">Dirac</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Clinton_Davisson" title="Clinton Davisson">Davisson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Peter_Debye" title="Peter Debye">Debye</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Ehrenfest" title="Paul Ehrenfest">Ehrenfest</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Albert_Einstein" title="Albert Einstein">Einstein</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hugh_Everett_III" title="Hugh Everett III">Everett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vladimir_Fock" title="Vladimir Fock">Fock</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Enrico_Fermi" title="Enrico Fermi">Fermi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Richard_Feynman" title="Richard Feynman">Feynman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roy_J._Glauber" title="Roy J. Glauber">Glauber</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Martin_Gutzwiller" title="Martin Gutzwiller">Gutzwiller</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Werner_Heisenberg" title="Werner Heisenberg">Heisenberg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/David_Hilbert" title="David Hilbert">Hilbert</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pascual_Jordan" title="Pascual Jordan">Jordan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hans_Kramers" title="Hans Kramers">Kramers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Willis_Lamb" title="Willis Lamb">Lamb</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lev_Landau" title="Lev Landau">Landau</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Max_von_Laue" title="Max von Laue">Laue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Henry_Moseley" title="Henry Moseley">Moseley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Robert_Andrews_Millikan" title="Robert Andrews Millikan">Millikan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Heike_Kamerlingh_Onnes" title="Heike Kamerlingh Onnes">Onnes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wolfgang_Pauli" title="Wolfgang Pauli">Pauli</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Max_Planck" title="Max Planck">Planck</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Isidor_Isaac_Rabi" title="Isidor Isaac Rabi">Rabi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/C._V._Raman" title="C. V. Raman">Raman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Johannes_Rydberg" title="Johannes Rydberg">Rydberg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Erwin_Schr%C3%B6dinger" title="Erwin Schrödinger">Schrödinger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Michelle_Simmons" title="Michelle Simmons">Simmons</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arnold_Sommerfeld" title="Arnold Sommerfeld">Sommerfeld</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_von_Neumann" title="John von Neumann">von Neumann</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hermann_Weyl" title="Hermann Weyl">Weyl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wilhelm_Wien" title="Wilhelm Wien">Wien</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eugene_Wigner" title="Eugene Wigner">Wigner</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pieter_Zeeman" title="Pieter Zeeman">Zeeman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anton_Zeilinger" title="Anton Zeilinger">Zeilinger</a></li></ul> </div></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar" style="border-top:1px solid #aaa;padding-top:0.1em;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Quantum_mechanics" title="Template:Quantum mechanics"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Quantum_mechanics" title="Template talk:Quantum mechanics"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Quantum_mechanics" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Quantum mechanics"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Quantum superposition</b> is a fundamental principle of <a href="/wiki/Quantum_mechanics" title="Quantum mechanics">quantum mechanics</a> that states that linear combinations of solutions to the <a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger_equation" title="Schrödinger equation">Schrödinger equation</a> are also solutions of the Schrödinger equation. This follows from the fact that the Schrödinger equation is a <a href="/wiki/Linear_differential_equation" title="Linear differential equation">linear differential equation</a> in time and position. More precisely, the state of a system is given by a linear combination of all the <a href="/wiki/Eigenfunction" title="Eigenfunction">eigenfunctions</a> of the Schrödinger equation governing that system. </p><p>An example is a <a href="/wiki/Qubit" title="Qubit">qubit</a> used in <a href="/wiki/Quantum_information_processing" class="mw-redirect" title="Quantum information processing">quantum information processing</a>. A qubit state is most generally a superposition of the basis states <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |0\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>0</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |0\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ed066a3ad158da0ad6d6a421a606b1c8a35eb95b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |0\rangle }"></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |1\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>1</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |1\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2f53021ca18e77477ee5bd3c1523e5830189ec5c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |1\rangle }"></span>: </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =c_{0}|0\rangle +c_{1}|1\rangle ,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>0</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>+</mo> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>1</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =c_{0}|0\rangle +c_{1}|1\rangle ,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f10213c27e86b15bff8015bd81b1d5983d14c5a4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:19.495ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =c_{0}|0\rangle +c_{1}|1\rangle ,}"></span></dd></dl> <p>where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6e77f6b1e903837c5765c9683da41dd93199621c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:3.36ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle }"></span> is the <a href="/wiki/Quantum_state" title="Quantum state">quantum state</a> of the qubit, and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |0\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>0</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |0\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ed066a3ad158da0ad6d6a421a606b1c8a35eb95b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |0\rangle }"></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |1\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>1</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |1\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2f53021ca18e77477ee5bd3c1523e5830189ec5c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |1\rangle }"></span> denote particular solutions to the Schrödinger equation in <a href="/wiki/Bra%E2%80%93ket_notation" title="Bra–ket notation">Dirac notation</a> weighted by the two <a href="/wiki/Probability_amplitude" title="Probability amplitude">probability amplitudes</a> <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle c_{0}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle c_{0}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/1882ba8f1dc60f0c68a642abb5af093c73910921" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.061ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle c_{0}}"></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle c_{1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle c_{1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/77b7dc6d279091d354e0b90889b463bfa7eb7247" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.061ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle c_{1}}"></span> that both are complex numbers. Here <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |0\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>0</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |0\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ed066a3ad158da0ad6d6a421a606b1c8a35eb95b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |0\rangle }"></span> corresponds to the classical 0 <a href="/wiki/Bit" title="Bit">bit</a>, and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |1\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>1</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |1\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2f53021ca18e77477ee5bd3c1523e5830189ec5c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |1\rangle }"></span> to the classical 1 bit. The probabilities of measuring the system in the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |0\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>0</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |0\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ed066a3ad158da0ad6d6a421a606b1c8a35eb95b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |0\rangle }"></span> or <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |1\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>1</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |1\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2f53021ca18e77477ee5bd3c1523e5830189ec5c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |1\rangle }"></span> state are given by <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |c_{0}|^{2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msup> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |c_{0}|^{2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8529f071ccb861751297a04659e8dbddca09bad8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.409ex; height:3.343ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |c_{0}|^{2}}"></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |c_{1}|^{2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msup> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |c_{1}|^{2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a9c67c5c8bf07a77edd704f880a64a35b8d9f1c5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.409ex; height:3.343ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |c_{1}|^{2}}"></span> respectively (see the <a href="/wiki/Born_rule" title="Born rule">Born rule</a>). Before the measurement occurs the qubit is in a superposition of both states. </p><p>The interference fringes in the <a href="/wiki/Double-slit_experiment" title="Double-slit experiment">double-slit experiment</a> provide another example of the superposition principle. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Wave_postulate">Wave postulate</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Wave postulate"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The theory of quantum mechanics postulates that a <a href="/wiki/Wave_equation" title="Wave equation">wave equation</a> completely determines the state of a quantum system at all times. Furthermore, this differential equation is restricted to be <a href="/wiki/Linear_differential_equation" title="Linear differential equation">linear</a> and <a href="/wiki/Homogeneous_differential_equation" title="Homogeneous differential equation">homogeneous</a>. These conditions mean that for any two solutions of the wave equation, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi _{1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi _{1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ddcd58cf9c1c4dd1eb32a29c1e3abf425ec72600" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.862ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi _{1}}"></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi _{2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi _{2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/1125553c0a026635c63ab2ad542b43174aca9bbe" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.862ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi _{2}}"></span>, a linear combination of those solutions also solve the wave equation: <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-display mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math display="block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi =c_{1}\Psi _{1}+c_{2}\Psi _{2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msub> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>+</mo> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msub> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi =c_{1}\Psi _{1}+c_{2}\Psi _{2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f6823dfb8e3163bbbfd61bd2d925ce8d6fdac949" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-display mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:17.594ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi =c_{1}\Psi _{1}+c_{2}\Psi _{2}}"></span> for arbitrary complex coefficients <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle c_{1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle c_{1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/77b7dc6d279091d354e0b90889b463bfa7eb7247" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.061ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle c_{1}}"></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle c_{2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle c_{2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/0b30ba1b247fb8d334580cec68561e749d24aff2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.061ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle c_{2}}"></span>.<sup id="cite_ref-Messiah_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Messiah-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference nowrap"><span title="Page / location: 61">: 61 </span></sup> If the wave equation has more than two solutions, combinations of all such solutions are again valid solutions. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Transformation">Transformation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Transformation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The quantum wave equation can be solved using functions of position, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi ({\vec {r}})}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>r</mi> <mo stretchy="false">→</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi ({\vec {r}})}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/860ed8dcca03bb55dda0fe92c92a079038be797b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.841ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi ({\vec {r}})}"></span>, or using functions of momentum, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi ({\vec {p}})}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">Φ</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>p</mi> <mo stretchy="false">→</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi ({\vec {p}})}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/96584b5a2ed608930bfa349e822c564a5298250d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.813ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi ({\vec {p}})}"></span> and consequently the superposition of momentum functions are also solutions: <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-display mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math display="block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi ({\vec {p}})=d_{1}\Phi _{1}({\vec {p}})+d_{2}\Phi _{2}({\vec {p}})}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">Φ</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>p</mi> <mo stretchy="false">→</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>d</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msub> <mi mathvariant="normal">Φ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>p</mi> <mo stretchy="false">→</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>+</mo> <msub> <mi>d</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msub> <mi mathvariant="normal">Φ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>p</mi> <mo stretchy="false">→</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi ({\vec {p}})=d_{1}\Phi _{1}({\vec {p}})+d_{2}\Phi _{2}({\vec {p}})}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f72ca07aa31123cf18829faed1ebb4abeb3a5120" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-display mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:27.011ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi ({\vec {p}})=d_{1}\Phi _{1}({\vec {p}})+d_{2}\Phi _{2}({\vec {p}})}"></span> The position and momentum solutions are related by a <a href="/wiki/Linear_transformation" class="mw-redirect" title="Linear transformation">linear transformation</a>, a <a href="/wiki/Fourier_transformation" class="mw-redirect" title="Fourier transformation">Fourier transformation</a>. This transformation is itself a quantum superposition and every position wave function can be represented as a superposition of momentum wave functions and vice versa. These superpositions involve an infinite number of component waves.<sup id="cite_ref-Messiah_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Messiah-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference nowrap"><span title="Page / location: 244">: 244 </span></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Generalization_to_basis_states">Generalization to basis states</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Generalization to basis states"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Other transformations express a quantum solution as a superposition of <a href="/wiki/Eigenvectors" class="mw-redirect" title="Eigenvectors">eigenvectors</a>, each corresponding to a possible result of a measurement on the quantum system. An eigenvector <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \psi _{i}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \psi _{i}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/3e709a809cfd3cfbb647fe22c8d1f81573f4c7ae" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.313ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \psi _{i}}"></span> for a mathematical operator, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\hat {A}}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">^</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\hat {A}}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f595a6c73d1183d6a1b2ac21fe47ac28c1483821" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.776ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\hat {A}}}"></span>, has the equation <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-display mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math display="block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\hat {A}}\psi _{i}=\lambda _{i}\psi _{i}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">^</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <msub> <mi>ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>λ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> <msub> <mi>ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\hat {A}}\psi _{i}=\lambda _{i}\psi _{i}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4f7c7cfad33ac61dd3bcde805172bb9897ac0dfe" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-display mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:11.655ex; height:3.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\hat {A}}\psi _{i}=\lambda _{i}\psi _{i}}"></span> where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \lambda _{i}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>λ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \lambda _{i}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/72fde940918edf84caf3d406cc7d31949166820f" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.155ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \lambda _{i}}"></span> is one possible measured quantum value for the observable <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}"></span>. A superposition of these eigenvectors can represent any solution: <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-display mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math display="block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi =\sum _{n}a_{i}\psi _{i}.}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo>=</mo> <munder> <mo>∑</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </munder> <msub> <mi>a</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> <msub> <mi>ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>.</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi =\sum _{n}a_{i}\psi _{i}.}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/da5aeb99c104b07a8842ea74cc61a45a859aa2a3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-display mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -3.005ex; width:13.638ex; height:5.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi =\sum _{n}a_{i}\psi _{i}.}"></span> The states like <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \psi _{i}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \psi _{i}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/3e709a809cfd3cfbb647fe22c8d1f81573f4c7ae" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.313ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \psi _{i}}"></span> are called basis states. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Compact_notation_for_superpositions">Compact notation for superpositions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Compact notation for superpositions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Important mathematical operations on quantum system solutions can be performed using only the coefficients of the superposition, suppressing the details of the superposed functions. This leads to quantum systems expressed in the <a href="/wiki/Bra-ket_notation" class="mw-redirect" title="Bra-ket notation">Dirac bra-ket notation</a>:<sup id="cite_ref-Messiah_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Messiah-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference nowrap"><span title="Page / location: 245">: 245 </span></sup> <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-display mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math display="block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |v\rangle =d_{1}|1\rangle +d_{2}|2\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>v</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>d</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>1</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>+</mo> <msub> <mi>d</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mn>2</mn> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |v\rangle =d_{1}|1\rangle +d_{2}|2\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/acc7ac146085e844fd0f2988bed9f23c30af497a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-display mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:18.572ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |v\rangle =d_{1}|1\rangle +d_{2}|2\rangle }"></span> This approach is especially effect for systems like quantum spin with no classical coordinate analog. Such shorthand notation is very common in textbooks and papers on quantum mechanics and superposition of basis states is a fundamental tool in quantum mechanics. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Consequences">Consequences</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Consequences"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Paul_Dirac" title="Paul Dirac">Paul Dirac</a> described the superposition principle as follows: </p> <blockquote><p>The non-classical nature of the superposition process is brought out clearly if we consider the superposition of two states, <i>A</i> and <i>B</i>, such that there exists an observation which, when made on the system in state <i>A</i>, is certain to lead to one particular result, <i>a</i> say, and when made on the system in state <i>B</i> is certain to lead to some different result, <i>b</i> say. What will be the result of the observation when made on the system in the superposed state? The answer is that the result will be sometimes <i>a</i> and sometimes <i>b</i>, according to a probability law depending on the relative weights of <i>A</i> and <i>B</i> in the superposition process. It will never be different from both <i>a</i> and <i>b</i> [i.e., either <i>a</i> or <i>b</i>]. <i>The intermediate character of the state formed by superposition thus expresses itself through the probability of a particular result for an observation being intermediate between the corresponding probabilities for the original states, not through the result itself being intermediate between the corresponding results for the original states.</i><sup id="cite_ref-Dirac1947_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dirac1947-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <p><a href="/wiki/Anton_Zeilinger" title="Anton Zeilinger">Anton Zeilinger</a>, referring to the prototypical example of the <a href="/wiki/Double-slit_experiment" title="Double-slit experiment">double-slit experiment</a>, has elaborated regarding the creation and destruction of quantum superposition: </p> <blockquote><p>"[T]he superposition of amplitudes ... is only valid if there is no way to know, even in principle, which path the particle took. It is important to realize that this does not imply that an observer actually takes note of what happens. It is sufficient to destroy the interference pattern, if the path information is accessible in principle from the experiment or even if it is dispersed in the environment and beyond any technical possibility to be recovered, but in principle still ‘‘out there.’’ The absence of any such information is <i>the essential criterion</i> for quantum interference to appear.<sup id="cite_ref-Zeilinger_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Zeilinger-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Theory">Theory</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Theory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="General_formalism">General formalism</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: General formalism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Any quantum state can be expanded as a sum or superposition of the eigenstates of an Hermitian operator, like the Hamiltonian, because the eigenstates form a complete basis: </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle =\sum _{n}c_{n}|n\rangle ,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>α</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <munder> <mo>∑</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </munder> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle =\sum _{n}c_{n}|n\rangle ,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/df393c7be36c417cc59f5a1a605aea04beef2e7b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -3.005ex; width:15.698ex; height:5.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle =\sum _{n}c_{n}|n\rangle ,}"></span></dd></dl> <p>where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |n\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |n\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/89c45bda6ac852da785c06476f2d3e3b6cba812a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.946ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |n\rangle }"></span> are the energy eigenstates of the Hamiltonian. For continuous variables like position eigenstates, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |x\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>x</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |x\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48004887d8f9dfc489bd2bc793780b7f1d8039ad" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.881ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |x\rangle }"></span>: </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle =\int dx'|x'\rangle \langle x'|\alpha \rangle ,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>α</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <mo>∫</mo> <mi>d</mi> <msup> <mi>x</mi> <mo>′</mo> </msup> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msup> <mi>x</mi> <mo>′</mo> </msup> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟨</mo> <msup> <mi>x</mi> <mo>′</mo> </msup> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>α</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle =\int dx'|x'\rangle \langle x'|\alpha \rangle ,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/9495e664ba18698edce2bfcc82c345de5ceaf6c6" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.338ex; width:22.12ex; height:5.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle =\int dx'|x'\rangle \langle x'|\alpha \rangle ,}"></span></dd></dl> <p>where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \phi _{\alpha }(x)=\langle x|\alpha \rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>ϕ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>α</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟨</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>α</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \phi _{\alpha }(x)=\langle x|\alpha \rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2ef30d5158d3fe8417e7fe37540e5370e46d9887" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:14.18ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \phi _{\alpha }(x)=\langle x|\alpha \rangle }"></span> is the projection of the state into the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |x\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>x</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |x\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48004887d8f9dfc489bd2bc793780b7f1d8039ad" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.881ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |x\rangle }"></span> basis and is called the wave function of the particle. In both instances we notice that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>α</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f42032e642ee1c9d27adb318d34c7cc85f7a95d5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:3.039ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\alpha \rangle }"></span> can be expanded as a superposition of an infinite number of basis states. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Example">Example</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Example"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Given the Schrödinger equation </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\hat {H}}|n\rangle =E_{n}|n\rangle ,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>H</mi> <mo stretchy="false">^</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>E</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\hat {H}}|n\rangle =E_{n}|n\rangle ,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8a6afb6d354132f7d244ee60cf28e4608aa6e922" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:14.635ex; height:3.343ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\hat {H}}|n\rangle =E_{n}|n\rangle ,}"></span></dd></dl> <p>where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |n\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |n\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/89c45bda6ac852da785c06476f2d3e3b6cba812a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.946ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |n\rangle }"></span> indexes the set of eigenstates of the Hamiltonian with energy eigenvalues <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle E_{n},}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>E</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle E_{n},}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/578d4bb07de7b29269be95abb6a214848c09aea7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:3.581ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle E_{n},}"></span> we see immediately that </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\hat {H}}{\big (}|n\rangle +|n'\rangle {\big )}=E_{n}|n\rangle +E_{n'}|n'\rangle ,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>H</mi> <mo stretchy="false">^</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>+</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msup> <mi>n</mi> <mo>′</mo> </msup> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>E</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>+</mo> <msub> <mi>E</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <msup> <mi>n</mi> <mo>′</mo> </msup> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msup> <mi>n</mi> <mo>′</mo> </msup> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\hat {H}}{\big (}|n\rangle +|n'\rangle {\big )}=E_{n}|n\rangle +E_{n'}|n'\rangle ,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/806bff6ca40452045baac80fd266eb3c453e7340" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:33.173ex; height:3.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\hat {H}}{\big (}|n\rangle +|n'\rangle {\big )}=E_{n}|n\rangle +E_{n'}|n'\rangle ,}"></span></dd></dl> <p>where </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =|n\rangle +|n'\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi>n</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>+</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msup> <mi>n</mi> <mo>′</mo> </msup> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =|n\rangle +|n'\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/99dd060b4c8a46870132855acbe5a64eefdf0ea3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:15.876ex; height:3.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =|n\rangle +|n'\rangle }"></span></dd></dl> <p>is a solution of the Schrödinger equation but is not generally an eigenstate because <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle E_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>E</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle E_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ad6b82f2a00af6c9efd4c16d4e99329605645c0c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.934ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle E_{n}}"></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle E_{n'}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>E</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <msup> <mi>n</mi> <mo>′</mo> </msup> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle E_{n'}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/9d618f0a54e5627c8baa3cfb77b3e2dfac8f31bc" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:3.465ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle E_{n'}}"></span> are not generally equal. We say that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6e77f6b1e903837c5765c9683da41dd93199621c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:3.36ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle }"></span> is made up of a superposition of energy eigenstates. Now consider the more concrete case of an <a href="/wiki/Electron" title="Electron">electron</a> that has either <a href="/wiki/Spin_(physics)" title="Spin (physics)">spin</a> up or down. We now index the eigenstates with the <a href="/wiki/Spinor" title="Spinor">spinors</a> in the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\hat {z}}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mover> <mi>z</mi> <mo stretchy="false">^</mo> </mover> </mrow> </mrow> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\hat {z}}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/722665b45e05afe79f4395a3de0237d8ce856273" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.296ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\hat {z}}}"></span> basis: </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =c_{1}|{\uparrow }\rangle +c_{2}|{\downarrow }\rangle ,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↑</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>+</mo> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↓</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =c_{1}|{\uparrow }\rangle +c_{2}|{\downarrow }\rangle ,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/42f17d6ba89011bea1b2f5f2747b88a7482c681e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:19.495ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle =c_{1}|{\uparrow }\rangle +c_{2}|{\downarrow }\rangle ,}"></span></dd></dl> <p>where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |{\uparrow }\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↑</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |{\uparrow }\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6e81fba5ac4e54a40f5b9d63e66548328b7ffb6e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |{\uparrow }\rangle }"></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |{\downarrow }\rangle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↓</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |{\downarrow }\rangle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/622f3f29fa4b88926ffa22e3da1daa5f2893d17c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.714ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |{\downarrow }\rangle }"></span> denote spin-up and spin-down states respectively. As previously discussed, the magnitudes of the complex coefficients give the probability of finding the electron in either definite spin state: </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{1}|^{2},}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↑</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msup> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msup> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{1}|^{2},}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4e31d0a1610fddb7d86d8548a0ae43a9dff80529" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:14.743ex; height:3.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{1}|^{2},}"></span></dd> <dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{2}|^{2},}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↓</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msup> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msup> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{2}|^{2},}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8ad7f70c0f22f0405876a0e5c22cfdf96bcf05a9" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:14.743ex; height:3.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{2}|^{2},}"></span></dd> <dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P_{\text{total}}=P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}+P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{1}|^{2}+|c_{2}|^{2}=1,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mtext>total</mtext> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↑</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>+</mo> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↓</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msup> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msup> <mo>+</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> <msup> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msup> <mo>=</mo> <mn>1</mn> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P_{\text{total}}=P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}+P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{1}|^{2}+|c_{2}|^{2}=1,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5fd7a45939635ea1e22247c9c7293c938999cefe" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:43.887ex; height:3.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P_{\text{total}}=P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}+P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=|c_{1}|^{2}+|c_{2}|^{2}=1,}"></span></dd></dl> <p>where the probability of finding the particle with either spin up or down is normalized to 1. Notice that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle c_{1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle c_{1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/77b7dc6d279091d354e0b90889b463bfa7eb7247" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.061ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle c_{1}}"></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle c_{2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>c</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle c_{2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/0b30ba1b247fb8d334580cec68561e749d24aff2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.061ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle c_{2}}"></span> are complex numbers, so that </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle ={\frac {3}{5}}i|{\uparrow }\rangle +{\frac {4}{5}}|{\downarrow }\rangle .}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mn>3</mn> <mn>5</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <mi>i</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↑</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>+</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mn>4</mn> <mn>5</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↓</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>.</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle ={\frac {3}{5}}i|{\uparrow }\rangle +{\frac {4}{5}}|{\downarrow }\rangle .}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/1751456a557a43b4c870d3dd5351854eb5556233" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.838ex; width:20.173ex; height:5.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle |\Psi \rangle ={\frac {3}{5}}i|{\uparrow }\rangle +{\frac {4}{5}}|{\downarrow }\rangle .}"></span></dd></dl> <p>is an example of an allowed state. We now get </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}=\left|{\frac {3i}{5}}\right|^{2}={\frac {9}{25}},}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↑</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>=</mo> <msup> <mrow> <mo>|</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mrow> <mn>3</mn> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> <mn>5</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <mo>|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msup> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mn>9</mn> <mn>25</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}=\left|{\frac {3i}{5}}\right|^{2}={\frac {9}{25}},}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/eeca39a54f3fc393e54a5fdc7feeb5aeb0b527ac" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.171ex; width:21.743ex; height:6.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}=\left|{\frac {3i}{5}}\right|^{2}={\frac {9}{25}},}"></span></dd> <dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=\left|{\frac {4}{5}}\right|^{2}={\frac {16}{25}},}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↓</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>=</mo> <msup> <mrow> <mo>|</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mn>4</mn> <mn>5</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <mo>|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msup> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mn>16</mn> <mn>25</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=\left|{\frac {4}{5}}\right|^{2}={\frac {16}{25}},}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/863ea6a63d777554353bd1f448c5d4d989136162" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -2.171ex; width:20.941ex; height:6.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}=\left|{\frac {4}{5}}\right|^{2}={\frac {16}{25}},}"></span></dd> <dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P_{\text{total}}=P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}+P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}={\frac {9}{25}}+{\frac {16}{25}}=1.}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mtext>total</mtext> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↑</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>+</mo> <mi>P</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">(</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↓</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.2em" minsize="1.2em">)</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mn>9</mn> <mn>25</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <mo>+</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mfrac> <mn>16</mn> <mn>25</mn> </mfrac> </mrow> <mo>=</mo> <mn>1.</mn> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P_{\text{total}}=P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}+P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}={\frac {9}{25}}+{\frac {16}{25}}=1.}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/845feda8d1aa925d760f2a5e4b88e350100ccfa1" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.838ex; width:41.391ex; height:5.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P_{\text{total}}=P{\big (}|{\uparrow }\rangle {\big )}+P{\big (}|{\downarrow }\rangle {\big )}={\frac {9}{25}}+{\frac {16}{25}}=1.}"></span></dd></dl> <p>If we consider a qubit with both position and spin, the state is a superposition of all possibilities for both: </p> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi =\psi _{+}(x)\otimes |{\uparrow }\rangle +\psi _{-}(x)\otimes |{\downarrow }\rangle ,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>⊗</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↑</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>+</mo> <msub> <mi>ψ</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo>−</mo> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>⊗</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo stretchy="false">↓</mo> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">⟩</mo> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi =\psi _{+}(x)\otimes |{\uparrow }\rangle +\psi _{-}(x)\otimes |{\downarrow }\rangle ,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ece787cabf4ceba45438338ca75ca96b78c13f4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:31.828ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi =\psi _{+}(x)\otimes |{\uparrow }\rangle +\psi _{-}(x)\otimes |{\downarrow }\rangle ,}"></span></dd></dl> <p>where we have a general state <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">Ψ</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f5471531a3fe80741a839bc98d49fae862a6439a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.808ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi }"></span> is the sum of the <a href="/wiki/Tensor_products" class="mw-redirect" title="Tensor products">tensor products</a> of the position space wave functions and spinors. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Experiments">Experiments</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Experiments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Successful experiments involving superpositions of <a href="/wiki/Mesoscopic" class="mw-redirect" title="Mesoscopic">relatively large</a> (by the standards of quantum physics) objects have been performed. </p> <ul><li>A <a href="/wiki/Beryllium" title="Beryllium">beryllium</a> <a href="/wiki/Ion" title="Ion">ion</a> has been trapped in a superposed state.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>A <a href="/wiki/Double_slit_experiment" class="mw-redirect" title="Double slit experiment">double slit experiment</a> has been performed with molecules as large as <a href="/wiki/Buckminsterfullerene" title="Buckminsterfullerene">buckyballs</a> and functionalized oligoporphyrins with up to 2000 atoms.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Molecules with masses exceeding 10,000 and composed of over 810 atoms have successfully been superposed<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Very sensitive magnetometers have been realized using <a href="/wiki/SQUID" title="SQUID">superconducting quantum interference devices</a> (SQUIDS) that operate using quantum interference effects in superconducting circuits.</li></ul> <ul><li>A <a href="/wiki/Piezoelectric" class="mw-redirect" title="Piezoelectric">piezoelectric</a> "<a href="/wiki/Tuning_fork" title="Tuning fork">tuning fork</a>" has been constructed, which can be placed into a superposition of vibrating and non-vibrating states. The resonator comprises about 10 trillion atoms.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Recent research indicates that <a href="/wiki/Chlorophyll" title="Chlorophyll">chlorophyll</a> within <a href="/wiki/Plants" class="mw-redirect" title="Plants">plants</a> appears to exploit the feature of quantum superposition to achieve greater efficiency in transporting energy, allowing pigment proteins to be spaced further apart than would otherwise be possible.<sup id="cite_ref-doi:10.1038/nature08811_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-doi:10.1038/nature08811-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="In_quantum_computers">In quantum computers</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: In quantum computers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Quantum_computers" class="mw-redirect" title="Quantum computers">quantum computers</a>, a <a href="/wiki/Qubit" title="Qubit">qubit</a> is the analog of the classical information <a href="/wiki/Bit" title="Bit">bit</a> and qubits can be superposed.<sup id="cite_ref-Nielsen-Chuang_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Nielsen-Chuang-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference nowrap"><span title="Page / location: 13">: 13 </span></sup> Unlike classical bits, a superposition of qubits represents information about two states in parallel.<sup id="cite_ref-Nielsen-Chuang_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Nielsen-Chuang-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference nowrap"><span title="Page / location: 31">: 31 </span></sup> Controlling the superposition of qubits is a central challenge in quantum computation. Qubit systems like <a href="/wiki/Nuclear_spin" class="mw-redirect" title="Nuclear spin">nuclear spins</a> with small coupling strength are robust to outside disturbances but the same small coupling makes it difficult to readout results.<sup id="cite_ref-Nielsen-Chuang_11-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Nielsen-Chuang-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference nowrap"><span title="Page / location: 278">: 278 </span></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Eigenstates" class="mw-redirect" title="Eigenstates">Eigenstates</a> – Mathematical entity to describe the probability of each possible measurement on a system<span style="display:none" class="category-annotation-with-redirected-description">Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets</span></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mach%E2%80%93Zehnder_interferometer" title="Mach–Zehnder interferometer">Mach–Zehnder interferometer</a> – Device to determine relative phase shift</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Penrose_interpretation" title="Penrose interpretation">Penrose interpretation</a> – Interpretation of quantum mechanics</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pure_qubit_state" class="mw-redirect" title="Pure qubit state">Pure qubit state</a> – Basic unit of quantum information<span style="display:none" class="category-annotation-with-redirected-description">Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets</span></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_computation" class="mw-redirect" title="Quantum computation">Quantum computation</a> – Computer hardware technology that uses quantum mechanics<span style="display:none" class="category-annotation-with-redirected-description">Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets</span></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger%27s_cat" title="Schrödinger's cat">Schrödinger's cat</a> – Thought experiment in quantum mechanics</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Superposition_principle" title="Superposition principle">Superposition principle</a> – Fundamental physics principle stating that physical solutions of linear systems are linear</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wave_packet" title="Wave packet">Wave packet</a> – Short "burst" or "envelope" of restricted wave action that travels as a unit</li></ul></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Messiah-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Messiah_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Messiah_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Messiah_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFMessiah1976" class="citation book cs1">Messiah, Albert (1976). <i>Quantum mechanics. 1</i> (2 ed.). Amsterdam: North-Holland. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-471-59766-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-471-59766-7"><bdi>978-0-471-59766-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Quantum+mechanics.+1&rft.place=Amsterdam&rft.edition=2&rft.pub=North-Holland&rft.date=1976&rft.isbn=978-0-471-59766-7&rft.aulast=Messiah&rft.aufirst=Albert&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Dirac1947-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Dirac1947_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFP.A.M._Dirac1947" class="citation book cs1">P.A.M. Dirac (1947). <i>The Principles of Quantum Mechanics</i> (2nd ed.). Clarendon Press. p. 12.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Principles+of+Quantum+Mechanics&rft.pages=12&rft.edition=2nd&rft.pub=Clarendon+Press&rft.date=1947&rft.au=P.A.M.+Dirac&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Zeilinger-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Zeilinger_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFZeilinger_A1999" class="citation journal cs1">Zeilinger A (1999). "Experiment and the foundations of quantum physics". <i>Rev. Mod. Phys</i>. <b>71</b> (2): S288–S297. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bibcode (identifier)">Bibcode</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999RvMPS..71..288Z">1999RvMPS..71..288Z</a>. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1103%2Frevmodphys.71.s288">10.1103/revmodphys.71.s288</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Rev.+Mod.+Phys.&rft.atitle=Experiment+and+the+foundations+of+quantum+physics&rft.volume=71&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=S288-S297&rft.date=1999&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1103%2Frevmodphys.71.s288&rft_id=info%3Abibcode%2F1999RvMPS..71..288Z&rft.au=Zeilinger+A&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMonroeMeekhofKingWineland1996" class="citation journal cs1">Monroe, C.; Meekhof, D. M.; King, B. E.; Wineland, D. J. (24 May 1996). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.272.5265.1131">"A "Schrödinger Cat" Superposition State of an Atom"</a>. <i>Science</i>. <b>272</b> (5265): 1131–1136. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.272.5265.1131">10.1126/science.272.5265.1131</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0036-8075">0036-8075</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Science&rft.atitle=A+%E2%80%9CSchr%C3%B6dinger+Cat%E2%80%9D+Superposition+State+of+an+Atom&rft.volume=272&rft.issue=5265&rft.pages=1131-1136&rft.date=1996-05-24&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1126%2Fscience.272.5265.1131&rft.issn=0036-8075&rft.aulast=Monroe&rft.aufirst=C.&rft.au=Meekhof%2C+D.+M.&rft.au=King%2C+B.+E.&rft.au=Wineland%2C+D.+J.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.science.org%2Fdoi%2F10.1126%2Fscience.272.5265.1131&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120331115055/http://www.quantum.at/research/molecule-interferometry-foundations/wave-particle-duality-of-c60.html">"Wave-particle duality of C60"</a>. 31 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Wave-particle+duality+of+C60&rft.date=2012-03-31&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quantum.at%2Fresearch%2Fmolecule-interferometry-foundations%2Fwave-particle-duality-of-c60.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">cite web</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown" title="Category:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNairz" class="citation web cs1">Nairz, Olaf. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.univie.ac.at/qfp/research/matterwave/stehwelle/standinglightwave.html">"standinglightwave"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=standinglightwave&rft.aulast=Nairz&rft.aufirst=Olaf&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.univie.ac.at%2Fqfp%2Fresearch%2Fmatterwave%2Fstehwelle%2Fstandinglightwave.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFYaakov_Y._FeinPhilipp_GeyerPatrick_ZwickFilip_Kiałka2019" class="citation journal cs1">Yaakov Y. Fein; Philipp Geyer; Patrick Zwick; Filip Kiałka; Sebastian Pedalino; Marcel Mayor; Stefan Gerlich; Markus Arndt (September 2019). "Quantum superposition of molecules beyond 25 kDa". <i>Nature Physics</i>. <b>15</b> (12): 1242–1245. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bibcode (identifier)">Bibcode</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019NatPh..15.1242F">2019NatPh..15.1242F</a>. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41567-019-0663-9">10.1038/s41567-019-0663-9</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:203638258">203638258</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Nature+Physics&rft.atitle=Quantum+superposition+of+molecules+beyond+25+kDa&rft.volume=15&rft.issue=12&rft.pages=1242-1245&rft.date=2019-09&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A203638258%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1038%2Fs41567-019-0663-9&rft_id=info%3Abibcode%2F2019NatPh..15.1242F&rft.au=Yaakov+Y.+Fein&rft.au=Philipp+Geyer&rft.au=Patrick+Zwick&rft.au=Filip+Kia%C5%82ka&rft.au=Sebastian+Pedalino&rft.au=Marcel+Mayor&rft.au=Stefan+Gerlich&rft.au=Markus+Arndt&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Eibenberger, S., Gerlich, S., Arndt, M., Mayor, M., Tüxen, J. (2013). "Matter-wave interference with particles selected from a molecular library with masses exceeding 10 000 amu", <i>Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics</i>, <b>15</b>: 14696-14700. <a href="/wiki/ArXiv_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ArXiv (identifier)">arXiv</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://arxiv.org/abs/1310.8343">1310.8343</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Scientific American: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=quantum-microphone"><i>Macro-Weirdness: "Quantum Microphone" Puts Naked-Eye Object in 2 Places at Once: A new device tests the limits of Schrödinger's cat</i></a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-doi:10.1038/nature08811-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-doi:10.1038/nature08811_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFScholesElisabetta_ColliniCathy_Y._WongKrystyna_E._Wilk2010" class="citation journal cs1">Scholes, Gregory; Elisabetta Collini; Cathy Y. Wong; Krystyna E. Wilk; Paul M. G. Curmi; Paul Brumer; Gregory D. Scholes (4 February 2010). "Coherently wired light-harvesting in photosynthetic marine algae at ambient temperature". <i><a href="/wiki/Nature_(journal)" title="Nature (journal)">Nature</a></i>. <b>463</b> (7281): 644–647. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bibcode (identifier)">Bibcode</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010Natur.463..644C">2010Natur.463..644C</a>. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature08811">10.1038/nature08811</a>. <a href="/wiki/PMID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMID (identifier)">PMID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20130647">20130647</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:4369439">4369439</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Nature&rft.atitle=Coherently+wired+light-harvesting+in+photosynthetic+marine+algae+at+ambient+temperature&rft.volume=463&rft.issue=7281&rft.pages=644-647&rft.date=2010-02-04&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1038%2Fnature08811&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A4369439%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F20130647&rft_id=info%3Abibcode%2F2010Natur.463..644C&rft.aulast=Scholes&rft.aufirst=Gregory&rft.au=Elisabetta+Collini&rft.au=Cathy+Y.+Wong&rft.au=Krystyna+E.+Wilk&rft.au=Paul+M.+G.+Curmi&rft.au=Paul+Brumer&rft.au=Gregory+D.+Scholes&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMoyer2009" class="citation news cs1">Moyer, Michael (September 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=quantum-entanglement-and-photo">"Quantum Entanglement, Photosynthesis and Better Solar Cells"</a>. <i>Scientific American</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">12 May</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Scientific+American&rft.atitle=Quantum+Entanglement%2C+Photosynthesis+and+Better+Solar+Cells&rft.date=2009-09&rft.aulast=Moyer&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle.cfm%3Fid%3Dquantum-entanglement-and-photo&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Nielsen-Chuang-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Nielsen-Chuang_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Nielsen-Chuang_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Nielsen-Chuang_11-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNielsenChuang2010" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Michael_Nielsen" title="Michael Nielsen">Nielsen, Michael A.</a>; <a href="/wiki/Isaac_Chuang" title="Isaac Chuang">Chuang, Isaac</a> (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cambridge.org/9781107002173"><i>Quantum Computation and Quantum Information</i></a>. Cambridge: <a href="/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press" title="Cambridge University Press">Cambridge University Press</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-10700-217-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-10700-217-3"><bdi>978-1-10700-217-3</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/43641333">43641333</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Quantum+Computation+and+Quantum+Information&rft.place=Cambridge&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=2010&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F43641333&rft.isbn=978-1-10700-217-3&rft.aulast=Nielsen&rft.aufirst=Michael+A.&rft.au=Chuang%2C+Isaac&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cambridge.org%2F9781107002173&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Niels_Bohr" title="Niels Bohr">Bohr, N.</a> (1927/1928). The quantum postulate and the recent development of atomic theory, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v121/n3050/abs/121580a0.html"><i>Nature</i> Supplement 14 April 1928, <b>121</b>: 580–590</a>.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Claude_Cohen-Tannoudji" title="Claude Cohen-Tannoudji">Cohen-Tannoudji, C.</a>, Diu, B., Laloë, F. (1973/1977). <i>Quantum Mechanics</i>, translated from the French by S. R. Hemley, N. Ostrowsky, D. Ostrowsky, second edition, volume 1, Wiley, New York, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0471164321" title="Special:BookSources/0471164321">0471164321</a>.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Albert_Einstein" title="Albert Einstein">Einstein, A.</a> (1949). Remarks concerning the essays brought together in this co-operative volume, translated from the original German by the editor, pp. 665–688 in <a href="/wiki/Paul_Arthur_Schilpp" title="Paul Arthur Schilpp">Schilpp, P. A.</a> editor (1949), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/311439"><i>Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist</i></a>, volume <span class="texhtml">II</span>, Open Court, La Salle IL.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Richard_Feynman" title="Richard Feynman">Feynman, R. P.</a>, Leighton, R.B., Sands, M. (1965). <i>The Feynman Lectures on Physics</i>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/III_toc.html">volume 3</a>, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eugen_Merzbacher" title="Eugen Merzbacher">Merzbacher, E.</a> (1961/1970). <i>Quantum Mechanics</i>, second edition, Wiley, New York.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Albert_Messiah" title="Albert Messiah">Messiah, A.</a> (1961). <i>Quantum Mechanics</i>, volume 1, translated by G.M. Temmer from the French <i>Mécanique Quantique</i>, North-Holland, Amsterdam.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWheelerZurek1983" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/John_Archibald_Wheeler" title="John Archibald Wheeler">Wheeler, J. A.</a>; <a href="/wiki/Wojciech_H._Zurek" title="Wojciech H. Zurek">Zurek, W.H.</a> (1983). <i>Quantum Theory and Measurement</i>. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Quantum+Theory+and+Measurement&rft.place=Princeton+NJ&rft.pub=Princeton+University+Press&rft.date=1983&rft.aulast=Wheeler&rft.aufirst=J.+A.&rft.au=Zurek%2C+W.H.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNielsenChuang2000" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Michael_Nielsen" title="Michael Nielsen">Nielsen, Michael A.</a>; <a href="/wiki/Isaac_Chuang" title="Isaac Chuang">Chuang, Isaac</a> (2000). <i>Quantum Computation and Quantum Information</i>. Cambridge: <a href="/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press" title="Cambridge University Press">Cambridge University Press</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0521632358" title="Special:BookSources/0521632358"><bdi>0521632358</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/43641333">43641333</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Quantum+Computation+and+Quantum+Information&rft.place=Cambridge&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=2000&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F43641333&rft.isbn=0521632358&rft.aulast=Nielsen&rft.aufirst=Michael+A.&rft.au=Chuang%2C+Isaac&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWilliams2011" class="citation book cs1">Williams, Colin P. (2011). <i>Explorations in Quantum Computing</i>. <a href="/wiki/Springer_Science%2BBusiness_Media" title="Springer Science+Business Media">Springer</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84628-887-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-84628-887-6"><bdi>978-1-84628-887-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Explorations+in+Quantum+Computing&rft.pub=Springer&rft.date=2011&rft.isbn=978-1-84628-887-6&rft.aulast=Williams&rft.aufirst=Colin+P.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFYanofskyMannucci2013" class="citation book cs1">Yanofsky, Noson S.; Mannucci, Mirco (2013). <i>Quantum computing for computer scientists</i>. <a href="/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press" title="Cambridge University Press">Cambridge University Press</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-87996-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-521-87996-5"><bdi>978-0-521-87996-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Quantum+computing+for+computer+scientists&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=2013&rft.isbn=978-0-521-87996-5&rft.aulast=Yanofsky&rft.aufirst=Noson+S.&rft.au=Mannucci%2C+Mirco&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AQuantum+superposition" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list-with-group{text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid}.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-image,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-list{border-top:2px solid #fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title{background-color:#ccf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Quantum_mechanics" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Quantum_mechanics_topics" title="Template:Quantum mechanics topics"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Quantum_mechanics_topics" title="Template talk:Quantum mechanics topics"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Quantum_mechanics_topics" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Quantum mechanics topics"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Quantum_mechanics" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Quantum_mechanics" title="Quantum mechanics">Quantum mechanics</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Background</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Introduction_to_quantum_mechanics" title="Introduction to quantum mechanics">Introduction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_quantum_mechanics" title="History of quantum mechanics">History</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_quantum_mechanics" title="Timeline of quantum mechanics">Timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Classical_mechanics" title="Classical mechanics">Classical mechanics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_quantum_theory" title="Old quantum theory">Old quantum theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_elementary_quantum_mechanics" title="Glossary of elementary quantum mechanics">Glossary</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Fundamentals</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Born_rule" title="Born rule">Born rule</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bra%E2%80%93ket_notation" title="Bra–ket notation">Bra–ket notation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Complementarity_(physics)" title="Complementarity (physics)"> Complementarity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Density_matrix" title="Density matrix">Density matrix</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Energy_level" title="Energy level">Energy level</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ground_state" title="Ground state">Ground state</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Excited_state" title="Excited state">Excited state</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Degenerate_energy_levels" title="Degenerate energy levels">Degenerate levels</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zero-point_energy" title="Zero-point energy">Zero-point energy</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_entanglement" title="Quantum entanglement">Entanglement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hamiltonian_(quantum_mechanics)" title="Hamiltonian (quantum mechanics)">Hamiltonian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wave_interference" title="Wave interference">Interference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_decoherence" title="Quantum decoherence">Decoherence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Measurement_in_quantum_mechanics" title="Measurement in quantum mechanics">Measurement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_nonlocality" title="Quantum nonlocality">Nonlocality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_state" title="Quantum state">Quantum state</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Superposition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_tunnelling" title="Quantum tunnelling">Tunnelling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scattering_theory" class="mw-redirect" title="Scattering theory">Scattering theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Symmetry_in_quantum_mechanics" title="Symmetry in quantum mechanics">Symmetry in quantum mechanics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uncertainty_principle" title="Uncertainty principle">Uncertainty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wave_function" title="Wave function">Wave function</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wave_function_collapse" title="Wave function collapse">Collapse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wave%E2%80%93particle_duality" title="Wave–particle duality">Wave–particle duality</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Formulations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mathematical_formulation_of_quantum_mechanics" title="Mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics">Formulations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Heisenberg_picture" title="Heisenberg picture">Heisenberg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interaction_picture" title="Interaction picture">Interaction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Matrix_mechanics" title="Matrix mechanics">Matrix mechanics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger_picture" title="Schrödinger picture">Schrödinger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Path_integral_formulation" title="Path integral formulation">Path integral formulation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phase-space_formulation" title="Phase-space formulation">Phase space</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Equations</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Klein%E2%80%93Gordon_equation" title="Klein–Gordon equation">Klein–Gordon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dirac_equation" title="Dirac equation">Dirac</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Weyl_equation" title="Weyl equation">Weyl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Majorana_equation" title="Majorana equation">Majorana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rarita%E2%80%93Schwinger_equation" title="Rarita–Schwinger equation">Rarita–Schwinger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pauli_equation" title="Pauli equation">Pauli</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rydberg_formula" title="Rydberg formula">Rydberg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger_equation" title="Schrödinger equation">Schrödinger</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Interpretations_of_quantum_mechanics" title="Interpretations of quantum mechanics">Interpretations</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_Bayesianism" title="Quantum Bayesianism">Bayesian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Consistent_histories" title="Consistent histories">Consistent histories</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Copenhagen_interpretation" title="Copenhagen interpretation">Copenhagen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/De_Broglie%E2%80%93Bohm_theory" title="De Broglie–Bohm theory">de Broglie–Bohm</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ensemble_interpretation" title="Ensemble interpretation">Ensemble</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hidden-variable_theory" title="Hidden-variable theory">Hidden-variable</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Local_hidden-variable_theory" title="Local hidden-variable theory">Local</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Superdeterminism" title="Superdeterminism">Superdeterminism</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Many-worlds_interpretation" title="Many-worlds interpretation">Many-worlds</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Objective-collapse_theory" title="Objective-collapse theory">Objective collapse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_logic" title="Quantum logic">Quantum logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Relational_quantum_mechanics" title="Relational quantum mechanics">Relational</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transactional_interpretation" title="Transactional interpretation">Transactional</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Wigner_interpretation" title="Von Neumann–Wigner interpretation">Von Neumann–Wigner</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Experiments</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bell_test" title="Bell test">Bell test</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Davisson%E2%80%93Germer_experiment" title="Davisson–Germer experiment">Davisson–Germer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Delayed-choice_quantum_eraser" title="Delayed-choice quantum eraser">Delayed-choice quantum eraser</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Double-slit_experiment" title="Double-slit experiment">Double-slit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Franck%E2%80%93Hertz_experiment" title="Franck–Hertz experiment">Franck–Hertz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mach%E2%80%93Zehnder_interferometer" title="Mach–Zehnder interferometer">Mach–Zehnder interferometer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Elitzur%E2%80%93Vaidman_bomb_tester" title="Elitzur–Vaidman bomb tester">Elitzur–Vaidman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Popper%27s_experiment" title="Popper's experiment">Popper</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_eraser_experiment" title="Quantum eraser experiment">Quantum eraser</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stern%E2%80%93Gerlach_experiment" title="Stern–Gerlach experiment">Stern–Gerlach</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wheeler%27s_delayed-choice_experiment" title="Wheeler's delayed-choice experiment">Wheeler's delayed choice</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Quantum_nanoscience" class="mw-redirect" title="Quantum nanoscience">Science</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_biology" title="Quantum biology">Quantum biology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_chemistry" title="Quantum chemistry">Quantum chemistry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_chaos" title="Quantum chaos">Quantum chaos</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_cosmology" title="Quantum cosmology">Quantum cosmology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_differential_calculus" title="Quantum differential calculus">Quantum differential calculus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_dynamics" title="Quantum dynamics">Quantum dynamics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_geometry" title="Quantum geometry">Quantum geometry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Measurement_problem" title="Measurement problem">Quantum measurement problem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_mind" title="Quantum mind">Quantum mind</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_stochastic_calculus" title="Quantum stochastic calculus">Quantum stochastic calculus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_spacetime" title="Quantum spacetime">Quantum spacetime</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Quantum_technology" class="mw-redirect" title="Quantum technology">Technology</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_algorithm" title="Quantum algorithm">Quantum algorithms</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_amplifier" title="Quantum amplifier">Quantum amplifier</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_bus" title="Quantum bus">Quantum bus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_cellular_automaton" title="Quantum cellular automaton">Quantum cellular automata</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_finite_automaton" title="Quantum finite automaton">Quantum finite automata</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_channel" title="Quantum channel">Quantum channel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_circuit" title="Quantum circuit">Quantum circuit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_complexity_theory" title="Quantum complexity theory">Quantum complexity theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_computing" title="Quantum computing">Quantum computing</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_quantum_computing_and_communication" title="Timeline of quantum computing and communication">Timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_cryptography" title="Quantum cryptography">Quantum cryptography</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_electronics" class="mw-redirect" title="Quantum electronics">Quantum electronics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_error_correction" title="Quantum error correction">Quantum error correction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_imaging" title="Quantum imaging">Quantum imaging</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_image_processing" title="Quantum image processing">Quantum image processing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_information" title="Quantum information">Quantum information</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_key_distribution" title="Quantum key distribution">Quantum key distribution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_logic" title="Quantum logic">Quantum logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_logic_gate" title="Quantum logic gate">Quantum logic gates</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_machine" title="Quantum machine">Quantum machine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_machine_learning" title="Quantum machine learning">Quantum machine learning</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_metamaterial" title="Quantum metamaterial">Quantum metamaterial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_metrology" title="Quantum metrology">Quantum metrology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_network" title="Quantum network">Quantum network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_neural_network" title="Quantum neural network">Quantum neural network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_optics" title="Quantum optics">Quantum optics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_programming" title="Quantum programming">Quantum programming</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_sensor" title="Quantum sensor">Quantum sensing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_simulator" title="Quantum simulator">Quantum simulator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_teleportation" title="Quantum teleportation">Quantum teleportation</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Extensions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_fluctuation" title="Quantum fluctuation">Quantum fluctuation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Casimir_effect" title="Casimir effect">Casimir effect</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_statistical_mechanics" title="Quantum statistical mechanics">Quantum statistical mechanics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_field_theory" title="Quantum field theory">Quantum field theory</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_quantum_field_theory" title="History of quantum field theory">History</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_gravity" title="Quantum gravity">Quantum gravity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Relativistic_quantum_mechanics" title="Relativistic quantum mechanics">Relativistic quantum mechanics</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger%27s_cat" title="Schrödinger's cat">Schrödinger's cat</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger%27s_cat_in_popular_culture" title="Schrödinger's cat in popular culture">in popular culture</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wigner%27s_friend" title="Wigner's friend">Wigner's friend</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Einstein%E2%80%93Podolsky%E2%80%93Rosen_paradox" title="Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox">EPR paradox</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_mysticism" title="Quantum mysticism">Quantum mysticism</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:Quantum_mechanics" title="Category:Quantum mechanics">Category</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-label="Navbox" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Help:Authority_control" title="Help:Authority control">Authority control databases</a>: National <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q830791#identifiers" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://d-nb.info/gnd/4346012-4">Germany</a></span></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&oldid=1245605494">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&oldid=1245605494</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Category</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Quantum_mechanics" title="Category:Quantum mechanics">Quantum mechanics</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown" title="Category:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown">CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_matches_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description matches Wikidata">Short description matches Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Use_dmy_dates_from_April_2020" title="Category:Use dmy dates from April 2020">Use dmy dates from April 2020</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Pages_displaying_short_descriptions_of_redirect_targets_via_Module:Annotated_link" title="Category:Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets via Module:Annotated link">Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets via Module:Annotated link</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_containing_video_clips" title="Category:Articles containing video clips">Articles containing video clips</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 14 September 2024, at 00:10<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms_of_Use" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms of Use">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy policy">Privacy Policy</a>. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/">Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.</a>, a non-profit organization.</li> </ul> <ul id="footer-places"> <li id="footer-places-privacy"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="footer-places-about"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About">About Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-disclaimers"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer">Disclaimers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-contact"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us">Contact Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-wm-codeofconduct"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct">Code of Conduct</a></li> <li id="footer-places-developers"><a href="https://developer.wikimedia.org">Developers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-statslink"><a href="https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/en.wikipedia.org">Statistics</a></li> <li id="footer-places-cookiestatement"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Cookie_statement">Cookie statement</a></li> <li id="footer-places-mobileview"><a href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quantum_superposition&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile" class="noprint stopMobileRedirectToggle">Mobile view</a></li> </ul> <ul id="footer-icons" class="noprint"> <li id="footer-copyrightico"><a href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg" width="84" height="29" alt="Wikimedia Foundation" loading="lazy"></a></li> <li id="footer-poweredbyico"><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki.svg" alt="Powered by MediaWiki" width="88" height="31" loading="lazy"></a></li> </ul> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-settings" id="p-dock-bottom"> <ul></ul> </div><script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.config.set({"wgHostname":"mw-web.codfw.main-f69cdc8f6-qpbcg","wgBackendResponseTime":177,"wgPageParseReport":{"limitreport":{"cputime":"0.760","walltime":"1.050","ppvisitednodes":{"value":4632,"limit":1000000},"postexpandincludesize":{"value":88091,"limit":2097152},"templateargumentsize":{"value":1546,"limit":2097152},"expansiondepth":{"value":16,"limit":100},"expensivefunctioncount":{"value":3,"limit":500},"unstrip-depth":{"value":1,"limit":20},"unstrip-size":{"value":114565,"limit":5000000},"entityaccesscount":{"value":1,"limit":400},"timingprofile":["100.00% 812.323 1 -total"," 20.98% 170.407 8 Template:Annotated_link"," 20.79% 168.859 1 Template:Reflist"," 14.80% 120.199 7 Template:Cite_book"," 13.97% 113.472 1 Template:Quantum_mechanics"," 13.68% 111.165 1 Template:Sidebar_with_collapsible_lists"," 10.33% 83.951 1 Template:Short_description"," 6.60% 53.607 1 Template:Authority_control"," 6.41% 52.041 6 Template:Rp"," 6.09% 49.505 2 Template:Pagetype"]},"scribunto":{"limitreport-timeusage":{"value":"0.428","limit":"10.000"},"limitreport-memusage":{"value":17237088,"limit":52428800}},"cachereport":{"origin":"mw-web.codfw.main-f69cdc8f6-4fsrh","timestamp":"20241122140730","ttl":2592000,"transientcontent":false}}});});</script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","name":"Quantum superposition","url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quantum_superposition","sameAs":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q830791","mainEntity":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q830791","author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/static\/images\/wmf-hor-googpub.png"}},"datePublished":"2002-09-09T08:51:37Z","dateModified":"2024-09-14T00:10:26Z","image":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/8\/8b\/Quantum_superposition_of_states_and_decoherence.ogv","headline":"principle of quantum mechanics"}</script> </body> </html>