Probabilistic Parallels in the Classical Limit of Quantum Mechanical Models

Abstract

At large quantum numbers, the probability densities for particle-in-a-box or simple harmonic oscillator converge to the classical result upon coarse-graining the quantum mechanical probability densities by introducing a finite resolution in the measurement of the particle's position. This resolution in the position can be related to the resolution of the secondary total angular momentum quantum number ($m$) when interpreting the probabilistic outcomes of the Stern--Gerlach-type thought experiments for large values of the angular momentum quantum numbers ($j$).