Quantum Measurement & Wavefunction Collapse

A free Gaussian wavepacket evolves under the Schrödinger equation. Position measurement collapses the superposition to a narrow packet near the observed position, with probability |ψ(x)|².

Initial momentum k₀4.0
Packet width σ0.06
Potential

iℏ ∂ψ/∂t = −(ℏ²/2m)∂²ψ/∂x² + V(x)ψ · Collapse: ψ → δ(x−x_obs) / Born rule: P(x) = |ψ(x)|²