Realistic Fluid Models Forhand For de Broglie Waves, and Wave Equations From the Quantum Potential

Paul A. Milewski, Carlos A. Galeano-Rios, André Nachbin +1 more

A millimetric droplet bouncing on the surface of a vibrating fluid bath can self-propel by virtue of a resonant interaction with its own wave field. This system represents the first known example of a pilot-wave system of the form envisaged by Louis de Broglie in his double-solution pilot-wave theory. We here develop a fluid model of pilot-wave hydrodynamics by coupling recent models of the droplet’s bouncing dynamics with a more realistic model of weakly viscous quasi-potential wave generation and evolution. The resulting model is the first to capture a number of features reported in experiment, including the rapid transient wave generated during impact, the Doppler effect and walker–walker interactions.

Róbert E. Wyatt

The quantum trajectory method (QTM) for time-dependent wave packet dynamics involves integration of the de Broglie–Bohm hydrodynamic equations for the evolving probability fluid [C. Lopreore and R. E. Wyatt, Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 5190 (1999)]. The equations of motion for discretized elements of the probability fluid (particles) are integrated in the Lagrangian, moving with the fluid, picture. These fluid elements move under the influence of both the usual potential energy function and the quantum potential, which involves the curvature of the quantum amplitude. The quantum potential and the quantum force are evaluated using a moving weighted least squares algorithm. As a demonstration of applicability, the QTM is applied to a model collinear reaction with an activation barrier. The reaction probabilities are in good agreement with exact quantum results, even for a relatively small number of particles in the ensemble. The QTM accurately describes tunneling using only real valued trajectories. In addition to the reaction probability, plots are presented to show the probability density and the flux distributions at several time steps during the reaction.

Michael H. Brill

William M. Honig

O. Chavoya-Aceves

A de Broglie-Bohm like model of Klein-Gordon equation, that leads to the correct Schrodinger equation in the low-speed limit, is presented. Under this theoretical framework, that affords an interpretation of the quantum potential, the main assumption of the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation--that the local momentum of particles is given by the gradient of the phase of the wave function--is not but approximately correct. Also, the number of particles is not locally conserved. Furthermore, the representation of physical systems through wave functions wont be complete.