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Quaternionic diffusion by a potential step

Stefano De Leo, Gisele Cristina Ducati

Published Jan 1, 2006• 10 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Abstract. In looking for qualitative differences between quaternionic and complex formulations of quantum physical theories, we provide a detailed discussion of the behavior of a wave packet in presence of a quaternionic time-independent potential step. In this paper, we restrict our attention to diffusion phenomena. For the group velocity of the wave packet moving in the potential region and for the reflection and transmission times, the study shows a striking difference between the complex and quaternionic formulations which could be matter of further theoretical discussions and could represent the starting point for a possible experimental investigation. PACS. 03.65.Fd – 03.65.Nk I.

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Quaternionic diffusion by a potential step

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arXiv:math-ph/0504025•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General•Mar 31, 2005•36 citations
Abstract. In looking for qualitative differences between quaternionic and complex formulations of quantum physical theories, we provide a detailed discussion of the behavior of a wave packet in presence of a quaternionic time-independent potential step. In this paper, we restrict our attention to diffusion phenomena. For the group velocity of the wave packet moving in the potential region and for the reflection and transmission times, the study shows a striking difference between the complex and quaternionic formulations which could be matter of further theoretical discussions and could represent the starting point for a possible experimental investigation. PACS. 03.65.Fd – 03.65.Nk I.
In looking for qualitative differences between quaternionic and complex formulations of quantum physical theories, we provide a detailed discussion of the behavior of a wave packet in the presence of a quaternionic time-independent potential step. In this paper, we restrict our attention to diffusion phenomena. For the group velocity of the wave packet moving in the potential region and for the reflection and transmission times, the study shows a striking difference between the complex and quaternionic formulations which could be matter of further theoretical discussions and could represent the starting point for a possible experimental investigation.
The scattering of a Dirac particle has been studied for a quaternionic potential step.In the potential region an additional diffusion solution is obtained.The quaternionic solution which generalizes the complex one presents an amplification of the reflection and transmission rates.A detailed analysis of the quaternionic spinorial velocities shed new light on the additional solution.For pure quaternionic potentials, the interesting and surprising result of total transmission is found.This suggests that the presence of pure quaternionic potentials cannot be seen by analyzing the reflection or transmission rates.It has been observed by measuring the mean value of some operator.
By using the recent mathematical tools developed in quaternionic differential operator theory, we solve the Schrödinger equation in the presence of a quaternionic step potential. The analytic solution for the stationary states allows one to explicitly show the qualitative and quantitative differences between this quaternionic quantum dynamical system and its complex counterpart. A brief discussion on reflected and transmitted times, performed by using the stationary phase method, and its implication on the experimental evidence for deviations of standard quantum mechanics is also presented. The analytic solution given in this paper represents a fundamental mathematical tool to find an analytic approximation to the quaternionic barrier problem (up to now solved by numerical method).
In this paper, we analyze, by using a matrix approach, the dynamics of a nonrelativistic particle in presence of a quaternionic potential barrier. The matrix method used to solve the quaternionic Schrödinger equation allows us to obtain a closed formula for the transmission coefficient. Up to now, in quaternionic quantum mechanics, almost every discussion on the dynamics of nonrelativistic particle was motivated by or evolved from numerical studies. A closed formula for the transmission coefficient stimulates an analysis of qualitative differences between complex and quaternionic quantum mechanics and by using the stationary phase method, gives the possibility to discuss transmission times.
We study the bound-state solutions of vanishing angular momentum in a quaternionic spherical square-well potential of finite depth. As in standard quantum mechanics, such solutions occur for discrete values of energy. At first glance, it seems that the continuity conditions impose a very restrictive constraint on the energy eigenvalues and, consequently, no bound states were expected for energy values below the pure quaternionic potential. Nevertheless, a careful analysis shows that pure quaternionic potentials do not remove bound states. It is also interesting to compare these new solutions with the bound state solutions of the trial-complex potential. The study presented in this paper represents a preliminary step towards a full understanding of the role that quaternionic potentials could play in quantum mechanics. Of particular interest for the authors is the analysis of confined wave packets and tunnelling times in this new formulation of quantum theory.