Intrinsic

 You

Quantum physics; tell me about quantum measurements. Are the 50/50 results beacause of  measurement vagaries, or intinsically so?

Copilot

Quantum measurements are indeed fascinating! In the quantum realm, the outcomes of measurements are not predetermined but are instead probabilistic. This means that the 50/50 outcomes you mentioned are intrinsic to the nature of quantum systems rather than due to measurement vagaries.

When we measure a quantum system, such as the spin of an electron, the system is in a superposition of all possible states until the measurement is made. The act of measurement causes the system to “collapse” into one of the possible states. For example, if an electron’s spin can be either up or down, before measurement, it exists in a superposition of both states. Upon measurement, it collapses to either spin-up or spin-down with certain probabilities, often 50/50 if the system is unbiased1.

This intrinsic randomness is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics, known as quantum indeterminacy. Unlike classical systems, where uncertainty is due to lack of knowledge about the system, quantum systems are inherently probabilistic12.

Does this help clarify things? Feel free to ask more questions if you’re curious about other aspects of quantum physics!