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What Is The Wave Function

Celso Luís Levada, Tabata Vidal, Huemerson Maceti, Bruno Sagioro Zaniboni, Ivan José Lautenschleguer

Published Jan 1, 2019• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Microscopic particles, like electrons, do not move following the classical laws of motion, given by Newtonian Mechanics. These particles, however, follow other laws that are associated to the propagation of waves. This becomes qualitatively clear when we observe an interference pattern arise in an experiment in which an electron beam passes through a double slit. In this brief study, we will deal with the quantum analysis of the dynamics of particles, by means of its postulates and its precise mathematical formulation. That is, we intend to introduce the wave function and the Schrodinger equation, as well as to interpret physically such a function. The scientific bases of this essay (1),(2),(3),(4),(5) can be found  in the  books listed in the bibliographic references.

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Microscopic particles, like electrons, do not move following the classical laws of motion, given by Newtonian Mechanics. These particles, however, follow other laws that are associated to the propagation of waves. This becomes qualitatively clear when we observe an interference pattern arise in an experiment in which an electron beam passes through a double slit. In this brief study, we will deal with the quantum analysis of the dynamics of particles, by means of its postulates and its precise mathematical formulation. That is, we intend to introduce the wave function and the Schrodinger equation, as well as to interpret physically such a function. The scientific bases of this essay (1),(2),(3),(4),(5) can be found  in the  books listed in the bibliographic references.
In the early 1900s more and more experimental evidence was accumulated indicating that microscopic particles show wave-like properties in certain situations. These particle-wave features are very evident, e.g., in measurements where electrons are diffracted from a double slit to propagate toward a screen where they are detected. Based on the classical averaging of particles discussed in Section 1.2.2, one expects that the double slit only modulates the overall intensity, not the spatial distribution. Experimentally, however, one observes a nearly perfect interference pattern at the screen implying that the electrons exhibit wave averaging features such as discussed in Section 2.1.2. This behavior, originally unexpected for particle beams, persists even if the experiment is repeated such that only one electron at a time passes the double slit before it propagates to the detection screen. Thus, the wave aspect must be an inherent property of individual electrons and not an ensemble effect. Another, independent argument for the failure of classical physics is that the electromagnetic analysis of atoms leads to the conclusion that the negatively charged electron(s) should collapse into the positively charged ion because the electron–ion system loses its energy due to the emission of radiation. As we will see, this problem can be solved by including the wave aspects of particles into the analysis. In particular, as discussed in Section 2.3.3, waves can never be localized to a point without increasing their momentum and energy beyond bounds.
One of the earliest and most important tenets of quantum mechanics is the wave-particle duality: light behaves sometimes like a wave and at other times as particle and similarly an electron can also behave both like a particle and as a wave. When the formal laws of quantum mechanics are formulated, the central quantity that describes the particles is the wave function. This points to the need for a good understanding of the properties of the waves. This chapter introduces the concepts and most essential applications that are required to follow the discussion of quantum mechanical laws and systems. The basic characteristics of the waves, such as the superposition principle are presented, and the interference and the diffraction phenomena are discussed. The Young’s double slit experiment in analysed and the formation of interference pattern is explicitly shown. The Rayleigh criterion for the microscopic resolution is also derived.
In our derivation of Planck's Law (showing that this Formula is an exact mathematical identity that describes the interaction of measurement) the 'accumulation of energy' locally at time t was a key variable. By starting with this as the primary variable and defining energy, momentum and force in terms of it we are able to mathematically derive such basic laws of Physics as Conservation of Energy and Momentum, and Newton's Second Law of Motion. Following the same approach we demonstrate in this short note how Schrodinger's Equation relates to this formulation. This leads to a physical meaning of the wave-function ψ and a plausible explanation of the double-slit experiment.
This paper provides a complete physical model associated with mathematical analysis and formulation that is based on Schrödinger equation and Feynman path integral. This model answers to single Photon (electron) double slit experiment with high degree of accuracy. It also gives a new method of analysis and formulation for Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffractions that are completely according to the Schrödinger equation and Feynman path concept. The results of these methods are precisely in agreement with the near field and far field diffraction experiments. In other words the new formulation in all above mentioned phenomena i.e. single photon (electron) double slit experiment, Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffractions are completely confirmed by lab experiments(measurements). Lab experiments mean common intensity and pattern experiments resulting from Fresnel (near field) diffraction, Fraunhofer (far field) diffraction and patterns resulting in single photon (electron) lab experiment. The resultant formulas are sketched and calculated by matlab program, the resultant graphs and values are compared with lab experiments in each section. This analysis substitutes wave function and probability density function concepts instead of interference of light beams emitted from infinitesimal pinholes or classical interpretation of near field diffraction and far field diffraction phenomena. The ultimate goal of this paper is to give a very accurate answer to the single particle double slit experiment and also to unify diffraction concept of classical optics in to quantum mechanics, deleting the traditional concept of phases in classical optics and substituting the concept of deflection of Feynman paths. The above mentioned analysis may be a glad tiding to a reliable method to unify classical optics in to quantum mechanics.
This paper provides a complete physical model associated with mathematical analysis and formulation that is based on Schrödinger equation and Feynman path integral. This model answers to single Photon (electron) double slit experiment with high degree of accuracy. It also gives a new method of analysis and formulation for Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffractions that are completely according to the Schrödinger equation and Feynman path concept. The results of these methods are precisely in agreement with the near field and far field diffraction experiments. In other words the new formulation in all above mentioned phenomena i.e. single photon (electron) double slit experiment, Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffractions are completely confirmed by lab experiments(measurements). Lab experiments mean common intensity and pattern experiments resulting from Fresnel (near field) diffraction, Fraunhofer (far field) diffraction and patterns resulting in single photon (electron) lab experiment. The resultant formulas are sketched and calculated by matlab program, the resultant graphs and values are compared with lab experiments in each section. This analysis substitutes wave function and probability density function concepts instead of interference of light beams emitted from infinitesimal pinholes or classical interpretation of near field diffraction and far field diffraction phenomena. The ultimate goal of this paper is to give a very accurate answer to the single particle double slit experiment and also to unify diffraction concept of classical optics in to quantum mechanics, deleting the traditional concept of phases in classical optics and substituting the concept of deflection of Feynman paths. The above mentioned analysis may be a glad tiding to a reliable method to unify classical optics in to quantum mechanics.