The Schrödinger equation: the quantum description of one massive, slow-moving particle To establish a probability wave equation for one photon, it was useful to note that probability density and electromagnetic energy density were proportional. The governing equation for EM radiation fields is the Maxwell wave equation, which is also the governing equation for photon probability wave functions. Converting from EM radiation to photon information is made plausible by identifying energy and momentum operators with time- and space-derivatives, respectively. Thus, the Maxwell wave equation can be interpreted as being equivalent to the energy-momentum relation for photons. Though we don’t have a “Maxwell wave equation” to start with for massive particles, we do have an energy-momentum relation, so borrowing the energy and momentum operators from photons leads to an analogous wave equation for massive particles.
The Schrödinger equation: the quantum description of one massive, slow-moving particle To establish a probability wave equation for one photon, it was useful to note that probability density and electromagnetic energy density were proportional. The governing equation for EM radiation fields is the Maxwell wave equation, which is also the governing equation for photon probability wave functions. Converting from EM radiation to photon information is made plausible by identifying energy and momentum operators with time- and space-derivatives, respectively. Thus, the Maxwell wave equation can be interpreted as being equivalent to the energy-momentum relation for photons. Though we don’t have a “Maxwell wave equation” to start with for massive particles, we do have an energy-momentum relation, so borrowing the energy and momentum operators from photons leads to an analogous wave equation for massive particles.
A derivation of the Klein-Gordon wave equation without substituting the corresponding quantum mechanical energy and momentum operators in Einstein's relativistic energy-momentum relationship is presented. An additional discussion is made to motivate readers to understand the distinction between the quantum wave equation and the governing law in the context of quantum mechanical formalisms. A resemblance of mathematical structure between the Maxwell wave equation and the deduced Klein-Gordan equation is shown. It is also noted that the wave velocity of the matter wave becomes equal to photon velocity for massless cases. This can be useful to explain why light equally shows matter and particle behaviour.
Essentially, we solve the particle-field equations obtained in the matter distribution quantum mechanics. In the framework of this theory, a particle is described by a density amplitude function, we call wave function, as a packet of waves with the time dependent phases proportional to the relativistic Lagrangian. The mass quantization of such a particle, as a distribution of matter, is obtained from the equality of the spatial integral of the density with the mass as a characteristic of the relativistic dynamics of this matter. The particle dynamics, as a motion of a mass spatial distribution, is obtained from the equality of the wave propagation velocities with the distribution coordinate velocities. This description is a physical one, compared to the Schrödinger-Heisenberg description leading to unphysical results as a null velocity for the kinetic energy as a constant of motion, or Zitterbewegung. The description of a particle interaction with an electromagnetic field by additional Lagrangian terms, with a vector potential conjugated to coordinates, as in the Aharonov-Bohm effect, and an electric potential conjugated to time, leads to the Lorentz force, and the Maxwell equations. In the two conjugated spaces, of the coordinates and of the momentum, the dynamics of a quantum particle is described by propagation operators, depending on the coordinate-momentum product, applied to time dependent wave functions satisfying matter-field equations. Unlike the standard Schrödinger or Schrödinger-Dirac equations, depending only on the Hamiltonian operator, instead of the Hamiltonian these equations contain the Lagrangian, which, besides the Hamiltonian, include additional terms with an explicit dependence on velocity, as it is expected in a relativistic theory. We obtain the wave function of a particle-antiparticle system interacting with an electromagnetic field, as a wave packet of spinors propagating in space with finite dimensions, given by the finite definition domain of the density function, in the space of the matter-field momentum, as a constant of motion. We show that an electrically charged quantum particle, rotating in a central electric field, generates a vector potential with a magnetic field perpendicular to the rotational plane and an electric field in this plane. By a quantum transition, a photon is emitted in the particle rotational plane, with the magnetic field perpendicular to this plane, and the electric field contained in this plane. In this framework, the vector potential rotation is correlated to a particle momentum rotation, for the canonical matter-field momentum as a constant of motion, without any electromagnetic field radiated outside.
The Schrodinger equation based on the de Broglie wave is the most fundamental equation of the quantum mechanics. There can be no doubt about it's prediction validity. However, the probabilistic interpretation on the quantum mechanics has insoluble semantic interpretations like reduction of wave packet on observations of physical values. Especially, it is not clear that the wave function which is described by complex function, is whether formality or reality to express the state of particle motion. On this paper, we interpret the wave nature of particle as not the inherency of particle itself, but the motional property of particle in fluctuated space-time due to the kinetic energy and momentum the belief that the kinetic energy and momentum fluctuates the microscopic space-time, and the particle move through the fluctuated space-time adversely. Then, through the particle motion in the Euclidean space-time, the particle will be recognized as if it has the wave nature. We estimate the governing equation of fluctuations of microscopic space-time based on the macroscopic law of motion. On this paper, the equivalence between the governing equation and the Schrodinger equation is indicated.
Till 1925 the idea of what the quantum theory would be was unknown. During 1925 three different but equivalent versions of quantum theory were proposed – Schrödinger-proposed wave mechanics; Heisenberg-developed matrix mechanics and Dirac-introduced operator theory. Considering the de Broglie’s matter waves Erwin Schrödinger, an Austrian physicist, argued that if a particle like an electron behaves as a wave then the equation of wave motion could be successfully applied to it. He postulated a function varying in both space and time in a wave-like manner (hence called wave function and denoted it as ψ). This function is generally complex and assumed to contain information about a system. Schrödinger set up a linear and time-dependent wave-like equation, called Schrödinger wave equation, to describe the wave aspect of a particle taking account of de Broglie’s relation for wavelength. Physically, |ψ(X, t)|2, where ψ(X, t) is the solution of the Schrödinger equation, is interpreted as position probability density. That is, |ψ(X, t)|2 is the probability density of observing a particle at position X at time t. ψ does not give exact outcomes of observations but helps us to know all possible events and their probabilities . Further, the probability interpretation allows us to find the average or expected result of a set of measurements on a quantum system.
The Schrodinger equation has been considered to be a postulate of quantum physics, but it is also perceived and derived heuristically as the quantum equivalent of the classical energy relation. We indicate that the Schrodinger equation cannot be a physical postulate, and we show that the heuristic derivations wrongly consider that the particle kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the momentum operator acting on the wavefunction. The correct term is proportional to the square of the momentum. Analyzing particle interactions, we realize that particles have multiple virtual motions and that each motion is accompanied by a wave that has constant amplitude. Accordingly, we define the wavefunction as the superposition of the virtual waves of the particle. As a result, quantum mechanics becomes a local and global theory, while in the traditional formulation it is a local theory. In several interaction settings we can tell what particle motions arise and explain the outcomes in simple and tangible terms. Most importantly, the mathematical foundation of quantum mechanics becomes clear and justified, and we derive the Schrodinger, Dirac, etc. equations as the conditions the wavefunction must satisfy at each space-time point in order to fulfill the respective total energy equation.
A wave equation already exists in classical physics (for example for a vibrating string) with a solution of the form exp(ikx-iwt) where k=2*3.14/wavelength and w=2*3.14 frequency. K and w are not simply linked to momentum and energy, but the wave is physically visible. The wavelike function exp(ikx-iEt) also appears in solutions for the photon, the relativistic Klein Gordon equation (and the Dirac too) as well as in the Schrodinger equation. This solution separates x and k and E and t so -id/dx exp(ikx-iEt) = k exp(ikx-iEt) and id/dt exp(ikx-iEt) = E exp(ikx-iEt). If a classical equation exists linking energy and momentum (like EE=pp+momo or E=.5mvv), one may convert it into a differential equation with independent fluctuations in x and t, but linked through the energy relationship. This retains the classical information, but introduces a wave solution. For the Schrodinger equation with a potential, exp(-iEt + i Integral (0,x) dx1 v(x1)m is a solution which is equivalent to exp(i Integral (0,t) L dt1) where L is the Lagrangian. In this case, -id/dx exp(i action) = p(x) exp(i action) and id/dt exp(i action) = E exp(i action). This also holds for the relativistic Lagrangian -mo sqrt(1-vv). In the case of an electromagnetic potential v dot A, one may write Integral dt1 v dot A = Integral (0,x) dx1 dot A and so A behaves exactly like p(x). For the case of light, exp(ikx-iEt) follows as a solution of a wave equation for either the electric or magnetic fields (which follows from Maxwell’s equations). The equation: d/dt (.5eoEl El + .5/uo BB) + grad dot El x B = 0 (for no source) also follows from Maxwell’s equations. It is an equation relating energy density to momentum flux and also allows for an exp(ikx-iEt) solution if El and B have the same magnitude (c=1) and are perpendicular to each other and the motion of the photon.