English

Expectation-Realization Interpretation of Quantum Superposition

Quantum Physics 2025-11-07 v1

Abstract

By comparing Schr\"odinger's cat with its classical counterpart, I show that a quantum superposition should be understood as an expectation over possible eigenstates weighted by wave-like probabilities. Upon the occurrence of a certain event, the quantum system is randomly realized into one of the possible eigenstates due to its intrinsic stochasticity. While the randomness of a single realization cannot be controlled or predicted, the overall distribution can be regulated via experimental setup and converges as the number of events increases. A measurement is indeed an activity employing a certain event to convert a quantum effect into a macroscopic outcome. Consequently, the puzzling concepts of wavefunction collapse, many worlds, and decoherence become unnecessary for understanding quantum superposition. This expectation-realization interpretation, which integrates probability theory with wave mechanics, can also be extended to quantum pathways. Moreover, it reframes tests of Bell's inequalities as validating the wave-like probability nature of quantum mechanics, with no need to invoke the mysterious notions of quantum non-locality and "spooky action at a distance".

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2511.04154,
  title  = {Expectation-Realization Interpretation of Quantum Superposition},
  author = {Yanting Wang},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2511.04154},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

4 pages and 3 figures

R2 v1 2026-07-01T07:24:12.416Z