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arXiv:2501.06001

Free temporal evolution of a superbandwidth wave packet: The quantum tale of the hare and the tortoise

Enrique G. Neyra, Marcelo F. Ciappina, Lorena Rebón

Published Jan 10, 2025• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Can the interplay between quantum mechanics and classical optics offer new perspectives on wavepacket dynamics? Building on this connection, we show that local momenta with both super-oscillatory and suboscillatory characteristics can arise during the free propagation of a quantum particle. This behavior is mathematically analogous to the propagation of a superbandwidth laser pulse in a dispersive medium, where the instantaneous frequencies of the electric field exhibit similar sub- and super-oscillatory features. This analogy is rooted in the equivalence between the wave description of light in classical optics and the formalism of quantum mechanics. In addition, we explore the phenomenon of wavepacket localization during free propagation within a bounded region. This localization is directly linked to the distribution of local momenta within the confined wavepacket region. To complement our quantum mechanical analysis, we also perform a classical analysis to provide further insights into this phenomenon. Our findings reveal that both the emergence of local momenta with sub- and super-oscillatory features and the wavepacket localization occur within a distinct timescale, which we define as the interference time.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2501.06001

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Can the interplay between quantum mechanics and classical optics offer new perspectives on wavepacket dynamics? Building on this connection, we show that local momenta with both super-oscillatory and suboscillatory characteristics can arise during the free propagation of a quantum particle. This behavior is mathematically analogous to the propagation of a superbandwidth laser pulse in a dispersive medium, where the instantaneous frequencies of the electric field exhibit similar sub- and super-oscillatory features. This analogy is rooted in the equivalence between the wave description of light in classical optics and the formalism of quantum mechanics. In addition, we explore the phenomenon of wavepacket localization during free propagation within a bounded region. This localization is directly linked to the distribution of local momenta within the confined wavepacket region. To complement our quantum mechanical analysis, we also perform a classical analysis to provide further insights into this phenomenon. Our findings reveal that both the emergence of local momenta with sub- and super-oscillatory features and the wavepacket localization occur within a distinct timescale, which we define as the interference time.
Abstract Can the interplay between quantum mechanics and classical optics offer new perspectives on wave packet dynamics? Building on this connection, we show that local momenta exhibiting both superoscillatory and suboscillatory characteristics can arise during the free propagation of a quantum particle. This behavior is mathematically analogous to the propagation of a superbandwidth laser pulse in a dispersive medium, where the instantaneous frequencies of the electric field locally exhibit similar sub- and superoscillatory features. This analogy is rooted in the equivalence between the wave description of light in classical optics and the formalism of quantum mechanics. In addition, we explore the phenomenon of wave packet localization during free propagation within a bounded region. This localization is directly linked to the distribution of local momenta within the confined wave packet region. To complement our quantum mechanical analysis, we also perform a classical analysis to provide further insights into this phenomenon. Our findings reveal that both the emergence of local momenta with sub- and superoscillatory features and the wave packet localization occur within a distinct timescale, which we define as the interference time .
Abstract The free propagation in time of a normalisable wave packet is the oldest problem of continuum quantum mechanics. Its motion from microscopic to macroscopic distance is the way in which most quantum systems are detected experimentally. Although much studied and analysed since 1927 and presented in many textbooks, here the problem is re‐appraised from the standpoint of semi‐classical mechanics. Particular aspects are the emergence of deterministic trajectories of particles emanating from a region of atomic dimension and the interpretation of the wave function as describing a single particle or an ensemble of identical particles. Of possible wave packets, that of Gaussian form is most studied due to the simple exact form of the time‐dependent solution in real and in momentum space. Furthermore, this form is important in laser optics. Here the equivalence of the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation to the paraxial equation for the propagation of light is demonstrated explicitly. This parallel helps to understand the relevance of trajectory concepts and the conditions necessary for the perception of quantum motion as classical. Key Points The paper addresses a problem of fundamental quantum mechanics, important in both physics and chemistry. Within physics, the subject is relevant to the disciplines of both quantum mechanics and classical optics. The matter presented is topical also for researchers in the history and philosophy of physics.
Abstract Super-oscillation is a counterintuitive phenomenon describing localized fast variations of functions and fields that happen at frequencies higher than the highest Fourier component of their spectra. The physical implications of this effect have been studied in information theory and optics of classical fields, and have been used in super-resolution imaging. As a general phenomenon of wave dynamics, super-oscillations have also been predicted to exist in quantum wavefunctions. Here we report the experimental demonstration of super-oscillatory behavior of a single-quantum object, a photon. The super-oscillatory behavior is demonstrated by tight localization of the photon wavefunction after focusing with an appropriately designed slit mask to create an interference pattern with a sub-diffraction hotspot (~0.45 λ). Such quantum super-oscillation can be used for low-intensity far-field super-resolution imaging techniques even down to single-photon counting regime, which would be of interest to quantum physics and non-invasive and label-free biological studies.
In the context of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, Gaussian wavepacket solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation provide useful physical insight. This is not the case for relativistic quantum mechanics, however, for which both the Klein-Gordon and Dirac wave equations result in strange and counterintuitive wavepacket behaviors, even for free-particle Gaussians. These behaviors include zitterbewegung and other interference effects. As a potential remedy, this paper explores a new trajectory-based formulation of quantum mechanics, in which the wavefunction plays no role [ Phys. Rev. X , 4 , 040002 (2014)]. Quantum states are represented as ensembles of trajectories, whose mutual interaction is the source of all quantum effects observed in nature—suggesting a "many interacting worlds" interpretation. It is shown that the relativistic generalization of the trajectory-based formulation results in well-behaved free-particle Gaussian wavepacket solutions. In particular, probability density is positive and well-localized everywhere, and its spatial integral is conserved over time—in any inertial frame. Finally, the ensemble-averaged wavepacket motion is along a straight line path through spacetime. In this manner, the pathologies of the wave-based relativistic quantum theory, as applied to wavepacket propagation, are avoided.
The free propagation in time of a normalisable wave packet is the oldest problem of continuum quantum mechanics. Its motion from microscopic to macroscopic distance is the way in which most quantum systems are detected experimentally. Although much studied and analysed since 1927 and presented in many text books, here the problem is re-appraised from the standpoint of semi-classical mechanics. Particular aspects are the emergence of deterministic trajectories of particles emanating from a region of atomic dimensions and the interpretation of the wave function as describing a single particle or an ensemble of identical particles. Of possible wave packets, that of gaussian form is most studied due to the simple exact form of the time-dependent solution in real and in momentum space. Furthermore, this form is important in laser optics. Here the equivalence of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation to the paraxial equation for the propagation of light is demonstrated explicitly. This parallel helps to understand the relevance of trajectory concepts and the conditions necessary for the perception of motion as classical.
Abstract The two‐dimensional paraxial equation of optics and the two‐dimensional time‐dependent Schrödinger equation, derived as approximations of the three‐dimensional Helmholtz equation and the three‐dimensional time‐independent Schrödinger equation, respectively, are identical. Here the free propagation in space and time of Hermite–Gauss wave packets (optics) or harmonic oscillator eigenfunctions (quantum mechanics) is examined in detail. The Gouy phase is shown to be a dynamic phase, appearing as the integral of the adiabatic eigenfrequency or eigenenergy. The wave packets propagate adiabatically in that at each space or time point they are solutions of the instantaneous harmonic problem. In both cases, it is shown that the form of the wave function is unchanged along the loci of the normals to wave fronts. This invariance along such trajectories is connected to the propagation of the invariant amplitude of the corresponding free wave number (optics) or momentum (quantum mechanics) wave packets. It is shown that the van Vleck classical density of trajectories function appears in the wave function amplitude over the complete trajectory. A transformation to the co‐moving frame along a trajectory gives a constant wave function multiplied by a simple energy or frequency phase factor. The Gouy phase becomes the proper time in this frame. Key Points This paper builds a bridge between quantum mechanics (QM) and classical optics in that the identity of the paraxial equation of optics and the Schrödinger equation of QM is shown, the Bohmian trajectories of QM are defined in optics, the Gouy phase of optics is defined in QM and given a new interpretation and The space and momentum wave functions are equivalent along a trajectory.