superpositionen

Superpositionen, or the superposition principle, is a concept used across physics to describe how linear systems combine independent influences. In its general form, the principle states that the response of a linear system to a sum of inputs equals the sum of the responses to each input taken separately. In wave physics this leads to the superposition of waves: when two or more waves travel through the same medium, the resulting wave is the algebraic sum of the individual waves, producing interference patterns that can be constructive or destructive.

In classical physics, the superposition principle applies to many linear systems, including sound waves, light waves, and electrical circuits. For example, multiple sound sources produce a combined pressure wave equal to the sum of each source’s wave, and in optics, light from different sources can interfere to create fringe patterns. The principle relies on linearity: if the system were non-linear, the sum of inputs would not yield the sum of outputs.

In quantum mechanics the term takes a more specific meaning. A quantum state can be a linear combination of basis states, or a superposition of possibilities, with complex coefficients. The state evolves linearly according to the Schrödinger equation, and measurement yields one of the possible outcomes with probabilities given by the Born rule. Superposition is central to phenomena such as interference and is foundational to quantum technologies, including quantum computing where qubits can exist in combinations of |0⟩ and |1⟩.

Limitations arise from non-linear interactions and environmental decoherence, which effectively suppress superpositions and drive systems toward definite outcomes upon observation.