Some implications of studies of electrons in fluids for the visualization of quantum mechanics

Daniel Perry Lathrop

Matthew S. Paoletti, R. Fiorito, Katepalli R. Sreenivasan +1 more

Matthew S. Paoletti

Akira Tonomura

Yeuncheol Jeong

The ontological interpretation of Bohmian quantum mechanics, through a particle's visual trajectory of motion, reconstitutes realism and determinism (and thus causality) in a quantum system. There also exists a similar but distinctive class of interpretation under Bohmian quantum mechanics, called the hydrodynamical interpretation. Here, the trajectories of the probability fluid flow play a significant computational role. The flow of the probability density visually helps chemists and engineers to solve the corresponding quantum hydrodynamical equations of motion. This particular computational scheme for the numerical solutions is called ‘the quantum trajectory method.' The success of the quantum trajectory method demonstrates the power of visual illustrations and metaphors in representing and analyzing quantum systems.

Stephen J. Minter

The quantum mechanical wavefunction of a freely falling hydrogen atom will remain unchanged\nto �first order in the presence of sufficiently weak tidal gravitational fields, giving rise to a form\nof incompressibility not seen in classical systems. The fact that the electron is in a bound state\nand that only discrete energy level transitions can occur causes the atom to behave differently than\na classical object in an inhomogeneous gravitational field under certain circumstances. A time-\ndependent energy shift that is overlooked in a widely-used gauge choice will be explored, and shown\nto be a real physical effect through gauge invariance. Quantum incompressibility of the wavefunction\ngoverning the electron super�fluid of a Type-I superconductor will also lead to non-classical behavior\nin the presence of tidal gravitational �fields, via coupling between gravitational and electromagnetic\n�fields. Theoretical and experimental implications will be discussed.