The elementary wave hypothesis: particles follow Schrödinger waves backwards

Jeffrey H. Boyd

Every discussion of quantum computing starts with wave-particle duality, to explain how qubits differ from bits. But what if wave-particle duality were wrong? How would we explain quantum computing then? A little-known science called the Theory of Elementary Waves (TEW) says that quantum particles follow zero-energy waves backwards. Wave-particle duality cannot be true if waves and particles travel in opposite directions. This article proposes the first-ever TEW theory of quantum circuits. Elementary waves emanate from measuring devices and travel backwards through the circuits, whereas qubits move forwards through the wires and gates following those waves backwards. Quantum computers are known to be reversible. After we present that way-of-thinking, we will explain some of the evidence that TEW is valid. There is a mountain of empirical evidence from outside information technology. TEW is a maverick theory, out-of-step with the consensus about how quantum computers work. At first TEW sounds counterintuitive. Its advantage is Occam’s Razor: we present a simpler explanation of quantum circuits. We will present the quantum computer equivalent of saying that before the box is open Schrödinger’s cat is already dead or alive, but not both. Observing the cat simply tells us what was already true before we looked.

Robert G. Mortimer

James Murray Hill

Jeffrey H. Boyd

All “interpretations” of Quantum Mechanics (QM) are predicated on the assumption that quantum mathematics is correct. We disagree. The Born rule implies that nature may have a hidden symmetry: |+ψ|2 = |–ψ|2 = probability. If nature uses –ψ then physicists would not recognize that their math is 100% wrong. This hypothesis could explain the mystery that quantum math appears to be the most accurate and productive mathematics humans ever possessed, the source of our high-tech economy, yet scientists cannot agree on what the quantum world is like: does it exist, are there infinitely many worlds, etc. If we change our wave-function from +ψ to –ψ, that will mean that quantum particles follow zero-energy “Elementary Waves” backwards. This symmetry does not conform to Noether’s Theorem because it does not involve physical space, rather an error in the human imagination. Wave-function collapse no longer occurs when a quantum particle is observed. It occurs when a free particle is emitted: when the particle selects which in-coming Elementary Wave to follow backwards. This undermines the foundations of the many-worlds theory. A superposition of states collapses as a particle is emitted, becoming only one state, located in only one world, not many. Type (Method/Approach): No one previously recognized the Born rule could hide a “Born Symmetry”: |+ψ|2 ≡ |–ψ|2. If so, it would be so immense, pervasive, insidious, and invisible that it could explain all quantum “weirdness” even though quantum math is the most accurate and productive science ever.

Eberhard Zeidler

Jeffrey H. Boyd

The quantum world is allegedly strange. But is it? What if there’s a simple mathematical explanation, and a simple solution? The success of quantum mechanics (QM) arises from the accuracy of its probability predictions, which are obtained by squaring amplitudes (the Born rule). Suppose for a moment that nature uses the negative of QM’s equations. When squared they would yield the same probabilities, confirmed by the same experiments and technological triumphs. If that were true, if nature uses the negative of QM’s equations, then the quantum world would become transparent, easy to understand. No more Schrödinger’s-cat. No quantum-eraser. No backwards-in-time cause-and-effect. No paradoxes nor enigmas. But, what’s a negative quantum equation? It could mean that particles follow zero-energy waves backwards, instead of forwards. That’s still an eccentric idea, a residual strangeness. Overall, it’s a bargain. We could swap one odd idea for another, because wave-particle duality is odd. We are accustomed to wave-particle duality. But we’ll show that experiments support the other arrangement: quantum particles follow zero-energy waves backwards. How could that possibly be true? We present substantial experimental evidence, new mathematics, and six dozen colorful illustrations. This is the Theory of Elementary Waves (TEW).