Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Mathematics/2018 November 2

= November 2 =

Born rule in math?
In physics one deals with quantum states that are unit vectors $$(z_1,z_2,\ldots)$$ in complex Hilbert space. Each state gives rise to a probability distribution on the positive integers, where $$\Pr[k] = |z_k|^2$$ (the Born rule). Question: does this type of distribution show up in non-physics parts of math, like in ordinary probability theory? It seems like it should. Thanks. 173.228.123.166 (talk) 23:10, 2 November 2018 (UTC)
 * I do not understand. Are not all $$|z_k|^2$$ supposed to be equal to 1? Ruslik_ Zero 20:25, 4 November 2018 (UTC)
 * The $$|z_k|^2$$ are supposed to add up to 1. 173.228.123.166 (talk) 00:51, 5 November 2018 (UTC)