Classical mechanics and the propagation of the discontinuities of the quantum wave function

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2003 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.67.024102· OSTI ID:20633778

Luis, Alfredo ^[1]

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1. Departamento de Optica, Facultad de Ciencias Fisicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid (Spain)

Geometrical optics can be regarded both as the short-wavelength approximation of the propagation of electromagnetic waves, and as the exact way in which propagate the surfaces of discontinuity of the classical electromagnetic field. In this work we translate this last idea to quantum mechanics (both relativistic and nonrelativistic). We find that the surfaces of discontinuity of the wave function propagate exactly following the classical trajectories determined by the Hamilton-Jacobi equation. As an example, we consider the lack of diffraction of abrupt wave fronts.

• OSTI ID: 20633778
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 67, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.67.024102; (c) 2003 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CLASSICAL MECHANICS
DIFFRACTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HAMILTON-JACOBI EQUATIONS
OPTICS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SURFACES
TRAJECTORIES
WAVE FUNCTIONS
WAVELENGTHS