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arXiv:1205.4521 · Journal of Physics Conference Series

Classical Simulation of Double Slit Interference via Ballistic Diffusion

J Mesa Pascasio, Siegfried Fussy, H. Schwabl, Gerhard Grössing

Published May 10, 2012• 7 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Based on a proposed classical explanation, the quantum mechanical "decay of the wave packet" is shown to simply result from sub-quantum diffusion with a specific diffusivity varying in time due to a particle's changing thermal environment. The exact quantum mechanical intensity distribution, as well as the corresponding trajectory distribution and the velocity field of a Gaussian wave packet are therewith computed. We utilize no quantum mechanics, but only familiar simulation techniques for diffusion, e.g., finite differences or coupled map lattices (CML).

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/361/1/012041

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Based on a proposed classical explanation, the quantum mechanical "decay of the wave packet" is shown to simply result from sub-quantum diffusion with a specific diffusivity varying in time due to a particle's changing thermal environment. The exact quantum mechanical intensity distribution, as well as the corresponding trajectory distribution and the velocity field of a Gaussian wave packet are therewith computed. We utilize no quantum mechanics, but only familiar simulation techniques for diffusion, e.g., finite differences or coupled map lattices (CML).
By modelling quantum systems as emerging from a (classical) sub-quantum thermodynamics, the quantum mechanical "decay of the wave packet" is shown to simply result from sub-quantum diffusion with a specific diffusion coefficient varying in time due to a particle's changing thermal environment. It is thereby proven that free quantum motion strictly equals ballistic diffusion. The exact quantum mechanical trajectory distributions and the velocity field of the Gaussian wave packet are thus derived solely from classical physics. Moreover, also quantum motion in a linear (e.g., gravitational) potential is shown to equal said ballistic diffusion. Quantitative statements on the trajectories' characteristic behaviours are obtained which provide a detailed "micro-causal" explanation in full accordance with momentum conservation.
By modelling quantum systems as emerging from a (classical) sub-quantum thermodynamics, the quantum mechanical decay of the wave is shown to simply result from sub-quantum diffusion with a specific diffusion coefficient varying in time due to a particle's changing thermal environment. It is thereby proven that free quantum motion strictly equals ballistic diffusion. The exact quantum mechanical trajectory distributions and the velocity field of the Gaussian wave packet are thus derived solely from classical physics. Moreover, also quantum motion in a linear (e.g., gravitational) potential is shown to equal said ballistic diffusion. Quantitative statements on the trajectories' characteristic behaviours are obtained which provide a detailed micro-causal explanation in full accordance with momentum conservation.
A research program within the scope of theories on "Emergent Quantum Mechanics" is presented, which has gained some momentum in recent years. Via the modeling of a quantum system as a non-equilibrium steady-state maintained by a permanent throughput of energy from the zero-point vacuum, the quantum is considered as an emergent system. We implement a specific "bouncer-walker" model in the context of an assumed sub-quantum statistical physics, in analogy to the results of experiments by Couder and Fort on a classical wave-particle duality. We can thus give an explanation of various quantum mechanical features and results on the basis of a "21st century classical physics", such as the appearance of Planck's constant, the Schrödinger equation, etc. An essential result is given by the proof that averaged particle trajectories' behaviors correspond to a specific type of anomalous diffusion termed "ballistic" diffusion on a sub-quantum level. It is further demonstrated both analytically and with the aid of computer simulations that our model provides explanations for various quantum effects such as double-slit or n-slit interference. We show the averaged trajectories emerging from our model to be identical to Bohmian trajectories, albeit without the need to invoke complex wavefunctions or any other quantum mechanical tool. Finally, the model provides new insights into the origins of entanglement, and, in particular, into the phenomenon of a "systemic" non-locality.
The quantum interference pattern in the double-slit experiment is qualitatively reproduced by using the entangled trajectory molecular dynamics method and compared with previous works. We compare entangled trajectory and classical trajectory with the same initial state in the phase space to show quantum effect in the evolution of trajectories. It is involved with breakdown in the statistical independence of the trajectories. Although our result does not agree well with exact quantum calculation in quantitatively with loss of part of interference pattern peaks, we can offer a reasonable explanation by analyzing quantum interference of two Gaussian wave packets in the phase space.
Abstract In Copenhagen’s interpretation, a self-interference mechanism is assumed for a wave function to split and to pass through the slits simultaneously, then recombine and collapse to generate a dot signal on a detector. Its use of a single wave function to describe a whole ensemble without accounting for a particle’s individuality is incomplete. To better understand the single-electron double-slit interference, we use a wave-packet trajectory approach to track each electron’s dynamics and calculate the time-dependent interference intensity. We analyze the self-interference and cross-interference mechanisms to illustrate how an electron’s coherence length affects the self-interference and how it dictates the wave packet overlaps between adjacent electrons for the cross-interference mechanism to be effective. To circumvent a conflicting dilemma between the electron’s indivisibility and its wave-packet split while passing through the slits, we consider an alternate mechanism involving slit-induced quantized momentum. This mechanism preserves the electron’s indivisibility and avoids the illusive split, recombination and mysterious collapse of a single particle’s wave function.