Basic quantum mechanical concepts from the operational viewpoint

Abstract

The physical meaning of the basic quantum mechanical concepts (such as the wave function, reduction, state preparation and measurement, the projection postulate, and the uncertainty principle) is clarified using realistic experimental procedures and employing classical analogies whenever possible. Photon polarization measurement and particle coordinate and momentum measurement are considered as examples, as also are Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen correlations, Aharonov–Bohm effects, quantum teleportation, etc. Various nonclassicality criteria of quantum models, including photon antibunching and the violation of the Bell inequality, are discussed.