Popper's Thought Experiment Reinvestigated

TL;DR

This paper reexamines Popper's thought experiment, deriving the governing equations from quantum principles, and demonstrates that two different experiments align with each other and with quantum theory, clarifying previous conflicting results.

Contribution

It provides a unified quantum mechanical analysis of Popper's thought experiment and related experiments, resolving apparent discrepancies in their outcomes.

Findings

The two experiments are consistent with each other.

Both experiments agree with quantum theory.

Equations derived from basic principles explain experimental results.

Abstract

Popper's original thought experiment probed some fundamental and subtle rules of quantum mechanics. Two experiments have directly and indirectly tested Popper's hypothesis, but they seem to give contrasting results. The equations governing these two experiments and Popper's thought experiment will be derived from basic quantum principles. The experimental constants will be inputted and it will show that the two experiments agree with each other and with quantum theory.