We investigate the tachyonic nature of the de Broglie matter waves associated with a free quantum object to show that granting reality to them would lend completeness to the quantum description of reality. Basing on the robustness of the well known Einstein-de Broglie reciprocal relation between the phase and the particle velocities, we extend the concept of complementarity to them and thereby propose a complementary relation between a bradyon and its corresponding tachyon (i.e. the associated matter wave) to endow the tachyons with a degree of reality, at least on par with the bradyons, within the current framework of quantum physics and extended relativity. The duality is used to argue that because of the observed localised nature of bradyons, tachyons should always be pervasive or global in character and thus, there can be no point-like tachyons. A common misconception regarding the nonrelativistic limit of the Einstein-de Broglie relation is pointed out and the consequent error of long standing is remedied.
We investigate the tachyonic nature of the de Broglie matter waves associated with a free quantum object to show that granting reality to them would lend completeness to the quantum description of reality. Basing on the robustness of the well known Einstein-de Broglie reciprocal relation between the phase and the particle velocities, we extend the concept of complementarity to them and thereby propose a complementary relation between a bradyon and its corresponding tachyon (i.e. the associated matter wave) to endow the tachyons with a degree of reality, at least on par with the bradyons, within the current framework of quantum physics and extended relativity. The duality is used to argue that because of the observed localised nature of bradyons, tachyons should always be pervasive or global in character and thus, there can be no point-like tachyons. A common misconception regarding the nonrelativistic limit of the Einstein-de Broglie relation is pointed out and the consequent error of long standing is remedied.
Despite their author, de Broglie waves for ordinary (bradyonic) particles are often considered without physical signication, mainly because they are tachyonic. I revisit some of de Broglie’s original ideas and discuss the standard approach to the problem, the \wave packet overlapped to a de Broglie wave. Using Pseudotachyonic Theory, it’s easy to conclude that this tachyonic wave actually exists but may only be detected with the same velocity of its associated particle. Furthermore, in what comes to \dualities, it appears that wave and particle are not two aspects of the same thing but instead two different though intimately correlated entities. These reections concern the physical nature of de Broglie waves, including particles \internal vibration, and lead to the premises of a new general Field Theory. Including positive as well as negative
This work is a revised version (Version 2) of a previous paper by the author, presented in a manner intended to emphasize more clearly the connection between its epistemological postulates and the subsequent development of its formalism. Several modifications have been introduced, and new sections have been added. As in the first version, the study concerns the physical interpretation of the imaginary quantities that arise in the formulation of superluminal relativity (including complex coordinates, velocities, angles, charges, and masses). In this framework, the kinematics of tachyons is analyzed, and the nature of the imaginary velocities appearing therein is examined. Furthermore, it is shown that a physical interpretation of the complex quantities (masses and charges) occurring both in quantum mechanics and in superluminal relativity is indeed possible. In this context, the complex nature of the electric charge is investigated, with particular attention to its divisibility. It is demonstrated that singular fractions of the electric charge exist whose squared values coincide with the observed quark charges. Within the same conceptual framework, the physical nature of a complex mass is also explored. It is shown that the imaginary component of such a mass implies that its gravitational field intensity behaves as a wave, propagating with the velocity of the wave associated with the particle itself. It is further demonstrated that the corresponding wavelength coincides with that given by the De Broglie relation, and that the resulting wave equation—second order in both spatial and temporal coordinates—is compatible with the Klein–Gordon wave equation. This constitutes a significant indication of the physical character of the associated wave and suggests an alternative interpretation to the orthodox probabilistic view of quantum mechanics.
We present a mechanical analog of a quantum wave-particle duality: a vibrating string threaded through a freely moving bead or "masslet." For small string amplitudes, the particle movement is governed by a set of nonlinear dynamical equations that couple the wave field to the masslet dynamics. Under specific conditions, the particle achieves a regime of transparency in which the field and the particle's dynamics appear decoupled. In that special case, the particle conserves its momentum and a guiding wave obeying a Klein-Gordon equation, with real or imaginary mass, emerges. Similar to the double-solution theory of de Broglie, this guiding wave is locked in phase with a modulating group wave comoving with the particle. Interestingly, both subsonic and supersonic particles can fall into a quantum regime as is the case with the slower-than-light bradyons and hypothetical, faster-than-light tachyons of particle physics.
The proposed paper presents the unobserved inadequacies in de Broglie's concepts of wave-particle duality and matter waves in the year 1923. The commonly admitted quantum energy or frequency expression hν=γmc2 is shown to be inappropriate for matter waves and is acceptable only for photons. The superluminal phase velocity expression c2/\u{psion}, for matter waves, is investigated in detail and is also reported to be inadequate. The rectifications in the inadequate concepts of de Broglie's theory and refinements in the analogy implementation between light waves and matter waves are presented, which provides the modified frequency and phase velocity expression for matter waves. Mathematical proofs for the proposed modified frequency and phase velocity expression are also presented. In accordance with the proposed concepts, a wave-particle duality picture is presented which elucidates the questions coupled with the wave-particle duality, existing in the literature. Consequently, particle type nature is shown to be a characteristic of waves only, independent from the presence of matter. The modifications introduced in the frequency expression for matter waves leads to variation in the wave function expression for a freely moving particle and its energy operators, with appropriate justifications. A new relation between the Kinetic energy and Momentum of the moving body is proposed and is subsequently applied to introduce novel General and Relativistic Quantum Mechanical Wave Equations. Applications of these equations in bound state quantum mechanical systems provide the information regarding particle's general and relativistic behavior in such systems. Moreover, the proposed wave equations can also be transformed into Schrödinger's and Dirac's equations. The interrelation of Schrödinger's, Dirac's and proposed equations with the universal wave equation is also presented.
It is argued that the de Broglie wave is not the wave usually supposed, but the relativistically induced modulation of an underlying carrier wave that moves with the velocity of the particle. In the rest frame of the particle this underlying structure has the form of a standing wave. De Broglie also assumed the existence of this antecedent standing wave, but it would appear that he failed to notice its survival as a carrier wave in the Lorentz transformed wave structure. Identified as a modulation, the de Broglie wave acquires a physically reasonable ontology, evidencing a more natural unity between matter and radiation than might otherwise be contemplated, and avoiding the necessity of recovering the particle velocity from a superposition of such waves. Because the Schrödinger and other wave equations for massive particles were conceived as equations for the de Broglie wave, this interpretation of the wave is also relevant to such issues in quantum mechanics as the meaning of the wave function, the nature of wave-particle duality, and the possibility of well-defined particle trajectories.
In his famous doctoral dissertation, de Broglie assumed that a massive particle is surrounded in its rest frame by a standing wave. He argued that as observed from another inertial frame this wave becomes the superluminal wave now known as the de Broglie wave. It is shown here that under a Lorentz transformation, such a standing wave becomes, not the de Broglie wave, but a modulated wave moving at the velocity of the particle. It is the modulation that has the superluminal velocity of the de Broglie wave and should be recognized as the true de Broglie wave. De Broglie's demonstrations relied, variously, on his "theorem of the harmony of phases", on a mechanical model, and on a spacetime diagram. It is shown that in each case the underlying wave was inadvertently suppressed. Identified as a modulation, the de Broglie wave acquires a physically reasonable ontology, avoiding the awkward device of recovering the particle velocity from a superposition of such waves. The deeper wave structure implied by this de Broglie wave must also impinge on such issues in quantum mechanics as the meaning of the wave function and the nature of wave-particle duality.