We explore the possibility to give a classical explanation to the specifics and physical sense of de Broglie matter waves when studying the microparticle as an object of non zero size, from the point of view of the special theory of relativity. We show that the particularities of de Broglie matter waves and the results of the experimental verifications of Bell inequalities for the pairs of entangled photons are naturally interpreted as the results of implementation of the conclusions of the special theory of relativity to the microparticles. We conclude that it is appropriate to go back to the search of the new means of realistic description of the nature proposed by Einstein and his realistic worldview that states that the world studied by the science is real and every part of it at any moment of time has objective physical characteristics.
We explore the possibility to give a classical explanation to the specifics and physical sense of de Broglie matter waves when studying the microparticle as an object of non zero size, from the point of view of the special theory of relativity. We show that the particularities of de Broglie matter waves and the results of the experimental verifications of Bell inequalities for the pairs of entangled photons are naturally interpreted as the results of implementation of the conclusions of the special theory of relativity to the microparticles. We conclude that it is appropriate to go back to the search of the new means of realistic description of the nature proposed by Einstein and his realistic worldview that states that the world studied by the science is real and every part of it at any moment of time has objective physical characteristics.
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.
Abstract Properties of de Broglie waves and their differences from any other waves, for example, electromagnetic, are discussed. Their little-known properties are given: 1) the propagation velocity is greater than the speed of light V > c ; 2) dispersion even in vacuum (waves of different frequencies propagate at different speeds, which results in the spreading of any wave packets associated with the particles); 3) the connection of the de Broglie wave with another physical wave moving with a speed v less than the speed of light, but so always v · V = c 2, and for the photons v = V = c. According to later views of de Broglie, this second wave is not the group wave. Possible mechanisms of generating the de Broglie waves based on spherical and cylindrical hollow quantum resonators, which can be specially created in matter using specific nanostructures are considered. Perhaps their nature itself realizes them for any micro-objects, regardless of their electrical, magnetic and gravitational properties. That is, this phenomenon is universal. Applications and realizations of this idea are discussed in the part II of our article.
Recent experiments on the classic Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) setting claim to test the compatibility between nonlocal quantum entanglement and the (special) theory of relativity. Confirmation of quantum theory has led to the interpretation that Einstein's image of physical reality for each photon in the EPR pair cannot be maintained. A detailed critique on two representative experiments is presented following the original EPR notion of local realism. It is argued that relativity does not enter into the picture, however for the Bell-Bohm version of local realism in terms of hidden variables such experiments are significant. Of the two alternatives, namely incompleteness of quantum theory for describing an individual quantum system, and the ensemble view, it is only the former that has been ruled out by the experiments. An alternative approach gives a statistical ensemble interpretation of the observed data, and the significant conclusion that these experiments do not deny physical reality of the photon is obtained. After discussing the need for a photon model, a vortex structure is proposed based on the space-time invariant property-spin, and pure gauge fields. To test the prime role of spin for photons and the angular-momentum interpretation of electromagnetic fields, experimental schemes feasible in modern laboratories are suggested.
According to the thesis presented here, the correct model of reality should be based on two major discoveries of the 20th century: Einstein's discovery that reality is four-dimensional (1905) and de Broglie's wave structure of matter (1924). In 1905, Einstein did not have all the information necessary to construct the proper model of relativity; therefore, by publishing the Theory of Relativity without knowledge of the wave structure of matter, he made a kind of a false start, which resulted in the excessive complexity and unintuitive nature of the Theory of Relativity. Including the wave nature of matter in the basic assumptions of the model of reality allows to greatly simplify the model, expand its capabilities compared to the model currently in force, and remove many problems specific to the Theory of Relativity. In this work, using the trivial example of waves on the surface of water, I derive relativistic relationships and give an unambiguous and precise interpretation of basic concepts like time, space, relativity of motion, and simultaneity of events. The new definition of time- and space dimensions also allows to define the proper time of particles directly as the number of de Broglie’s wave periods for both relativistic physics and Quantum Mechanics.
The EPR controversy between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about the completeness of the quantum mechanics is one of the most essential contemporary debates in physics with respect to the issue of realism. Initially considered as a though-experiment, the EPR paradox was meant to evidence the inadequacy of quantum mechanics with respect to the traditional leading principle of physics such as locality, independence of the system elements of reality with respect to the observer or semantic reference of theories to elements of the reality in itself. Bell’s mathematical inquiry opened the possibility to empirically discriminate between the view of Bohr and Einstein through the so-called Bell’s inequalities. Based on these inequalities, the experimental test provided in particular by the work of Alain Aspect settled the debate in favor of Bohr and the completeness of quantum mechanics. The previously evident assumption that physical theories are describing the reality in it-self can thus be questioned. Several approaches have been proposed to face that challenge, such as the orthodox quantum physics formulation coupled with the interpretation of Bernard d’Espagnat , the non-local theory of De Broglie-Bohm or the quantum mechanics approach with extended probability of James B. Hartle . In this paper, we consider the idea according to which the field of experiments and measurements on quantum systems is a research context where several epistemic values traditionally leading the scientific activity are in conflict. Instead of conceiving the transition from classical to quantum physics along Thomas Kuhns’ theory of revolutionary paradigm change , characterized by a strong incommensurability between the old and the new approaches, we argue that this epistemological shift could be rationally understood as an incremental evolution of the epistemic values leading scientific activity. As the analysis in this paper aims to show, such a rational reconstruction shows a process of gradual change, where core epistemic values are maintained, while others are broadened to account for the new scientific approaches. The settling of the EPR controversy could be understood as the indication that the previously assumed epistemic values cannot be consistently held together in the quantum context. The values of logical consistency and empirical adequacy remained universally shared, but the controversy leads to question the other traditionally admitted principles, such as the locality, the requirement of semantic references to the reality in itself and the independence of experimental results with respect to the observer, all tightly connected with the realistic conceptions of the world. This first part of the paper characterizes the selected contemporary approaches in quantum context with respect to the modification of the epistemic principles they adopt to restore their consistency. While the de Broglie-Bohm theory explicitly follows the requirement of referring to the reality in itself at the expense of the locality principle, the approaches of d’Espagnat and of Hartle give priority to the values of theoretical framework simplicity and predictive power. In the case of d’Espagnat, the descriptive purpose of the scientific activity remains, but only in a weak objectivity perspective, restricted to the “empirical reality” in which the observer is involved. In the case of Hartle, the extended probability formulation of quantum mechanics is conceived as “an extension of familiar probability theory that incorporates negative probabilities”6, which relies on the Bayesian conception of “probabilities as instruction for betting” (negative probability is thus associated to the instruction “don’t bet”). In a second part, the paper uses this reconstruction of the various theories in order to address the epistemic status of the principles of descriptive power and of independence of the observed system with respect to the observer. In particular, our analysis aims to assess if a reference to the observer is part of the reality description or if such reference is avoidable. This is of prior interest in exploring the main characteristics of a realistic approach that would be applicable in the context of experiments and measurements on quantum systems. In that perspective, we argue that the direct holistic realism, developed by Hilary Putnam in The Threefold Cord , could be a promising intermediate option between a classical realism, which assumes that theoretical structures are describing the reality in it-self, and a more instrumentalist view, focusing mainly on the modeling of the empirical reality as a result of experimental operations while rejecting access to the reality in itself.