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Concept

wavefunction

A wave-like structure emerges from a misty, ethereal environment, symbolizing the concept of a wavefunction in quantum mechanics.

The central mathematical object of quantum mechanics, usually written as the Greek letter psi. It assigns a complex number to every possible configuration of a system, and the square of its magnitude gives the probability density of finding the system in that configuration on measurement. Whether the wavefunction is a real physical thing or merely a bookkeeping device for predictions remains contested.

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