We reconstruct Quantum Mechanics in a way that harmonises with classical mechanics and electromagnetism, free from mysteries or paradoxes as the \emph{collapse of the wave-function} or \emph{Schrödinger's cat.} The construction is inspired by de Broglie's and Schrödinger's wave mechanics while the unifying principle is Hamilton's principle of least action, which separates natural laws from particular circumstances such as initial conditions and leads to the conservation of energy for isolated systems. In Part I we construct the Quantum Mechanics of a charged unitary entity and prescribe the form in which the entity interacts with other charged entities and matter in general. In Part II we address the quantum mechanics of the hydrogen atom, testing the correctness and accuracy of the general description. The relation between electron and proton in the atom is described systematically in a construction that is free from analogies or ad-hoc derivations and it supersedes conventional Quantum Mechanics (whose equations linked to measurements can be recovered). We briefly discuss why the concept of isolation built in Schrödinger's time evolution is not acceptable and how it immediately results in the well known measurement paradoxes of quantum mechanics. We also discuss the epistemic grounds of the development and provide a criticism of instrumentalism, the leading philosophical perspective behind conventional Quantum Mechanics.
We reconstruct Quantum Mechanics in a way that harmonises with classical mechanics and electromagnetism, free from mysteries or paradoxes as the \emph{collapse of the wave-function} or \emph{Schrödinger's cat.} The construction is inspired by de Broglie's and Schrödinger's wave mechanics while the unifying principle is Hamilton's principle of least action, which separates natural laws from particular circumstances such as initial conditions and leads to the conservation of energy for isolated systems. In Part I we construct the Quantum Mechanics of a charged unitary entity and prescribe the form in which the entity interacts with other charged entities and matter in general. In Part II we address the quantum mechanics of the hydrogen atom, testing the correctness and accuracy of the general description. The relation between electron and proton in the atom is described systematically in a construction that is free from analogies or ad-hoc derivations and it supersedes conventional Quantum Mechanics (whose equations linked to measurements can be recovered). We briefly discuss why the concept of isolation built in Schrödinger's time evolution is not acceptable and how it immediately results in the well known measurement paradoxes of quantum mechanics. We also discuss the epistemic grounds of the development and provide a criticism of instrumentalism, the leading philosophical perspective behind conventional Quantum Mechanics.
In Part I we constructed the Quantum Mechanics of a charged unitary entity and prescribed the form in which such a particle interacts with other charged particles and matter in general. In this second part we extend the description to the hydrogen atom testing the correctness and accuracy of the general description. The relation between electron and proton in the atom is described systematically in a construction that is free from analogies or ad-hoc derivations and it supersedes conventional Quantum Mechanics (whose equations linked to measurements can be recovered). We briefly discuss why the concept of isolation built in Schrödinger's time evolution is not acceptable and how it immediately results in the well known measurement paradoxes of quantum mechanics. We also discuss the epistemic grounds of the development as well as those of conventional Quantum Mechanics.
Despite its successes, quantum mechanics (QM) has remained mysterious to all who have encountered it. Starting with Bohr and progressing into the present, the departure from intuitive, physical reality has widened. The connection between QM and reality is more than just a “philosophical” issue. It reveals that QM is not a correct or complete theory of the physical world and that inescapable internal inconsistencies and incongruities arise when attempts are made to treat it as physical as opposed to a purely mathematical “tool.” Some of these issues are discussed in a review by F. Laloe [Am. J. Phys. 69, 655 (2001)]. In an attempt to provide some physical insight into atomic problems and starting with the same essential physics as Bohr of e moving in the Coulombic field of the proton and the wave equation as modified by Schrodinger, a classical approach is explored that yields a remarkably accurate model and provides insight into physics on the atomic level. The proverbial view, deeply seated in the wave-particle duality notion, that there is no large-scale physical counterpart to the nature of the electron may not be correct. Physical laws and intuition may be restored when dealing with the wave equation and quantummechanical problems. Specifically, a theory of classical quantum mechanics (CQM) is derived from first principles that successfully applies physical laws on all scales. Rather than using the postulated Schrodinger boundary condition “Ψ → 0 as r → ∞,” which leads to a purely mathematical model of the electron, the constraint is based on experimental observation. Using Maxwell’s equations, the classical wave equation is solved with the constraint that the bound (n = 1)state electron cannot radiate energy. By further application of Maxwell’s equations to electromagnetic and gravitational fields at particle production, the Schwarzschild metric is derived from the classical wave equation, which modifies general relativity to include conservation of spacetime in addition to momentum and matter/energy. The result gives a natural relationship among Maxwell’s equations, special relativity, and general relativity. CQM holds over a scale of spacetime of 85 orders of magnitude — it correctly predicts the nature of the universe from the scale of the quarks to that of the cosmos. A review is given by G. Landvogt [Internat. J. Hydrogen Energy 28, 1155 (2003)].
We expose the Schrödinger quantum mechanics with traditional applications to Hydrogen atom. We discuss carefully the experimental and theoretical background for the introduction of the Schrödinger, Pauli and Dirac equations, as well as for the Maxwell equations. We explain in detail all basic theoretical concepts. We explain all details of the calculations and mathematical tools: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism for the systems with finite degree of freedom and for fields, Geometric Optics, the Hamilton-Jacobi equation and WKB approximation, Noether theory of invariants including the theorem on currents, four conservation laws (energy, momentum, angular momentum and charge), Lie algebra of angular momentum and spherical functions, scattering theory (limiting amplitude principle and limiting absorption principle), the Lienard-Wiechert formulas, Lorentz group and Lorentz formulas, Pauli theorem and relativistic covariance of the Dirac equation, etc. We give a detailed oveview of the conceptual development of the quantum mechanics, and expose main achievements of the ``old quantum mechanics'' in the form of exercises. One of our basic aim in writing this book, is an open and concrete discussion of the problem of a mathematical description of the following two fundamental quantum phenomena: i) Bohr's quantum transitions and ii) de Broglie's wave-particle duality. Both phenomena cannot be described by autonomous linear dynamical equations, and we give them a new mathematical treatment related with recent progress in the theory of global attractors of nonlinear hyperbolic PDEs.
This paper proposes a novel framework to derive all known laws of physics from a single foundational principle: the *Law of Consistency*, introduced in Section 2. By applying this law to symmetric states and conditions—regardless of the method of execution—it becomes possible, through pure mathematical reasoning, to reconstruct both classical mechanics (as developed by Isaac Newton) and, more significantly, quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is reinterpreted in this paper under a new conceptual framework rooted in consistency, providing coherent explanations for key phenomena such as entanglement, decoherence, wave function collapse, interference, the Pauli exclusion principle, and others. The principle of consistency is also extended to the domain of special relativity and shown to underlie its transition into general relativity. Some well-known equations (e.g., *E = mc²*) are re-derived, not for novelty, but to emphasize their foundational basis in the proposed axioms of consistency (Axioms 1 and 2) and logical deduction. Constants of nature (e.g., Planck's constant, *G*, *k*, etc.) are not addressed in this work.they may represent arbitrarily assigned values within the universe,but must be preserved through space and time by definition of the consistency laws.
Chapter 4 deals with Quantum Mechanical (QM) phenomena. The first section describes the first attempts at quantization of energy, momentum, angular momentum, etc. We start with Plank's solution to the black-body problem, introducing the concept of photons: discrete packets of electromagnetic energy. We show how Plank's description of black-body radiation is perfectly fit by the cosmic microwave radiation, providing the strongest evidence for the Big-Bang at the origin of the Universe. We then describe Bohr's solution to the paradoxical stability of atoms, introducing quantization of angular momentum (or action) and correctly predicting the energy levels of the hydrogen atom. We show how Einstein used Plank's idea to explain the photo-electric effect (an effect exploited in CCD cameras and solar cells) and how he used Bohr's understanding of energy levels in atoms to provide an intuitive explanation of Plank's law. Einstein insight opened the way to the field of spectroscopy and the development of the laser. In the second section, following the lead of Dirac, we show that QM is equivalent to Linear Algebra in the space of complex functions (which describe the state of the system). We show that Schrödinger's equation is a natural consequence of that description, once the relation between energy and frequency established by Plank (for photons) and de Broglie (for particles) is taken into account. In the context of the chiral ammonia molecule we discuss the queerness of QM which describes physical systems as superposition of states (such as left and right chirality state of a molecule, dead and alive cat). We show that this queerness is nonetheless supported by experiments and is behind much of our technology: masers and lasers, atomic clocks, semiconductors (diodes, transistors, etc.). In the following section we introduce the representation of operators in QM (the equivalent of matrices in linear algebra): momentum, position, energy, etc. which correspond to measurements on the system. We show that the non-commutability of some operators (common with matrix operations) leads to Heisenberg uncertainty principle: the position and momentum of a particle cannot be determined with absolute precision. We discuss the solution of Schrödinger's equation for free particles demonstrating their equivalence with EM phenomena: particles undergo refraction and diffraction, exemplifying the particle/wave duality inherent to QM systems. We discuss QM tunneling and its use in the Scanning Tunneling Microscope. In the following section we study Dirac's equation: the successful attempt by Dirac to unify QM with Einstein's relativity, with the resulting prediction of anti-particles and spin. We then solve for the energy levels of electrons in the hydrogen atom (from Schrödinger's equation) and show that the existence of spin profoundly affects the behavior of electrons in an atom: they cannot share the same energy level, a rule known as Pauli's exclusion principle. Pauli's principle is central to the understanding of the chemical properties of atoms and fully explains Mendeleev's periodic table of the elements. In the next section we discuss along with two exactly soluble systems (diatomic rotational and vibrational levels), various approximations used to study systems (e.g. molecules) for which there are no analytical solutions. In particular, we introduce Pauling's variational approach, Hückel molecular orbital theory and time independent perturbation theory. We apply those approaches to determine the energy levels in alkenes, in multi-electron atoms and in systems under constant electric or magnetic field (such as in Magnetic Resonance Imaging). In the last section we discuss time dependent perturbation theory. We use it to establish the rules allowing for transitions between energy levels and revisit Einstein description of absorption/emission phenomena.
This paper proposes a novel framework to derive all known laws of physics from a single foundational principle: the *Law of Consistency*, introduced in Section 2 and elaborated in Section 7. By applying this law to symmetric states and conditions—regardless of the method of execution—it becomes possible, through pure mathematical reasoning, to reconstruct both classical mechanics (as developed by Isaac Newton) and, more significantly, quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is reinterpreted in this paper under a new conceptual framework rooted in consistency, providing coherent explanations for key phenomena such as entanglement, decoherence, wave function collapse, interference, the Pauli exclusion principle, and others. The principle of consistency is also extended to the domain of special relativity and shown to underlie its transition into general relativity. Some well-known equations (e.g., *E = mc²*) are re-derived, not for novelty, but to emphasize their foundational basis in the proposed axioms of consistency (Axioms 1 and 2) and logical deduction. Constants of nature (e.g., Planck's constant, *G*, *k*, etc.) are not addressed in this work. It is argued that they may represent arbitrarily assigned values within the universe, preserved through space and time by definition and by the consistency law