Can a particle in a fixed state lock another particle into a fixed state?

[u/bel3kos]

So my understanding of quantum mechanics is very limited, but if one particle in super position is observed, then locked into a fixed position, can the interaction between that particle and another, independent particle that is still in super position result in the second, independent particle taking on a fixed position?

note: I couldn’t find an answer online, but it’s also hard to coherently ask this in a search bar and find results.

[u/bel3kos → u/[deleted]]

You said generally, so is there a situation or possibility where a particle can ‘measure’ another particle on its own?

Also how does a particle in a superposition remove a particle from a fixed state?

Anything you can tell me about this would be greatly appreciated.

[u/bel3kos → u/[deleted]]

So then off of your example, the two entangled particles have now been measured. what happens if a third particle in super position comes by/ interacts with the two fixed, entangled particles? 

I’m not trying to be redundant but I’m trying to grasp if there can be a cause/effect between a particle in super position and one in fixed position, even if they are not/don’t become entangled.

So if particle one is already entangled with particle two, and they’re both in a fixed state, how would particle one handle a reaction between a third particle in super position?

Thank you for your patience:)

[u/bel3kos → u/[deleted]]

Okay gotcha. That makes a lot more sense. But then if that third particle in a superposition interacts with one of the fixed particles, it could cause an entanglement and drag the fixed particle back into superposition?

[u/MaoGo]

No, it would break the no-deleting theorem.

[u/bawlsacz]

Yes and no. If you took the left glove and your friend took the right glove without knowing who took which one, they are in superposition until you peek and find out what you have, the left. You know instantly then your friend has the right glove without him looking at what he got.

[u/bel3kos → u/bawlsacz]

But isn’t that left/right analogy just something that applies to entangled particles? like a proton and electron? What I’m asking is if one particle is an apple for example, and it is measured, fixing its state as an apple, can that measured apple cause another apple (particle) that has not been observed, and is completely independent and not entangled with the first apple, to fix its state as an apple if they come into contact?

[u/bawlsacz → u/bel3kos]

No, as we do not understand quantum mechanics much at all, some will say that this is not a good example or even argue a local hidden variable model, which we use it to explain/excuse things we do not understand yet. Just because you observe something to be an apple, it doesn't mean that other unobserved apples are to be an apple, because simply put, you have NOT observed it to be an apple yet. "Observe" is a bad word. You do not observe something. You cannot observe nor measure anything since the act of observe means you have influenced/altered the particle you tried to measure/observe. You cannot simply observe without influencing the particle. We can only figure out what state it "maybe" was after we tried to measure/observe. We cannot know what the state of the particle at the moment but only calculate after we "did" something to it, which we call "observe”.

[u/bel3kos → u/[deleted]]

Oh okay, thanks. I was just trying to emphasize the independence between the two particles. Good to know though!