On the problem of recovering the ψ function in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics

ANTON Z. CAPRI

Ya. S. Grinberg

Marek Nowakowski

We argue that the process of constructing the quantum mechanical current of the Pauli equation by copying the line of argument used in the spin-0 case, i.e., the Schrödinger equation, is ambiguous. We show that a nonrelativistic reduction of the relativistic Dirac four-vector current is, however, capable of fully resolving the problem. This analysis reveals that the nonrelativistic current of the Pauli equation should include an extra term of the form ∇×(ψ†σψ). We present an initial exploration of the potential consequences of this new “spin term” by solving the Pauli equation for crossed magnetic and electric fields and calculating the corresponding current.

ANTON Z. CAPRI

W. R. Salzman, M. E. Baur

The construction of operator functionals of the full Hamiltonian of a quantum-mechanical system which act as projection operators for a specified exact eigenstate is studied. In general these operator functionals are not equivalent to the formal operator |ψ〉〈ψ|, where |ψ〉 is the state of interest, and are not always idempotent. A formal method by which standard perturbation theoretic expansions for the exact ground-state vector and ground-state energy of the system can be recovered by expansion of a certain operator functional of this type is presented. Related work is briefly discussed.

Arthur Jabs

We expound an alternative to the Copenhagen interpretation of the formalism of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. The basic difference is that the new interpretation is formulated in the language of epistemological realism. It involves a change in some basic physical concepts. The ψ function is no longer interpreted as a probability amplitude of the observed behavior of an elementary particle but as an objective physical field representing the particle itself. The particles are thus extended objects whose extension varies in time according to the variation of ψ. They are considered as fundamental regions of space with no internal structure. This implies some kind of nonlocality. Symmetrization of the configuration space wave function is interpreted as a mathematical description of a physical process, which also leads to nonlocal effects. Special consideration