Talk:Heisenberg cut

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Physics Mid‑importance

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Werner on the cutting line

http://proceedings.aip.org/resource/2/apcpcs/1327/1/26_1?bypassSSO=1 In this situation it follows automatically that, in a mathematical treatment of the process, a dividing line must be drawn between, on the one hand, the apparatus which we use as an aid in putting the question and thus, in a way, treat as part of ourselves, and on the other hand, the physical systems we wish to investigate. The latter we represent mathematically as a wave function. This function, according to quantum theory, consists of a differential equation which determines any future state from the present state of the function... The dividing line between the system to be observed and the measuring apparatus is immediately defined by the nature of the problem but it obviously signifies no discontinuity of the physical process. For this reason there must, within limits, exist complete freedom in choosing the position of the dividing line.

That's the purest statement of the cut I've found from Werner himself. Put that in as a block quote? Hcobb (talk) 18:23, 19 November 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Definition

I tried to research this concept a couple of years ago and couldn't find a good, authoritative description of what the Heisenberg cut is. It appears a lot in the literature regarding decoherence, so I've always assumed it can refer to inanimate measuring devices as well as conscious observers. Thank you for starting this article. -Jordgette [talk] 07:30, 24 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]