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arXiv:1209.2665 · Archive for History of Exact Sciences

Emergence of classical trajectories in quantum systems: the cloud chamber problem in the analysis of Mott (1929)

Rodolfo Figari, Alessandro Teta

Published Nov 6, 2012• 17 citations
arXivHTMLPDF
DOI
10.1007/s00407-012-0111-z

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The aim of this paper is to discuss in a pedagogical way the problem of the emergence of classical behaviour in certain physical systems which, in principle, are correctly described by quantum mechanics. It is stressed that the limit ℏ → 0 is not sufficient and the crucial role played by the environment must be taken into account. In particular, recalled is the old problem raised by Mott in 1929 ( Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 126 79) concerning the straight tracks observed in a cloud chamber, produced by an α-particle emitted by a source in the form of a spherical wave. The conceptual relevance of the problem for a clearer understanding of the classical limit is discussed in a historical perspective. Moreover, a simple mathematical model is proposed, where the result of Mott is obtained in a rigorous mathematical way.