On the self-interference in electron scattering: Copenhagen, Bohmian and geometrical interpretations of quantum mechanics
- IBM Research — Zurich, Rüschlikon, 8803 (Switzerland)
Self-interference embodies the essence of the particle-wave formulation of quantum mechanics (QM). According to the Copenhagen interpretation of QM, self-interference by a double-slit requires a large transverse coherence of the incident wavepacket such that it covers the separation between the slits. Bohmian dynamics provides a first step in the separation of the particle-wave character of matter by introducing deterministic trajectories guided by a pilot wave that follows the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. In this work, I present a new description of the phenomenon of self-interference using the geometrical formulation of QM introduced in Tavernelli (2016). In particular, this formalism removes the need for the concept of wavefunction collapse in the interpretation of the act of measurement i.e., the emergence of the classical world. The three QM formulations (Schrödinger, Bohmian, and geometrical) are applied to the description of the scattering of a free electron by a hydrogen atom and a double-slit. The corresponding interpretations of self-interference are compared and discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 22848334
- Journal Information:
- Annals of Physics, Vol. 393; Other Information: © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-4916
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Understanding interference experiments with polarized light through photon trajectories
Wavefunction Collapse via a Nonlocal Relativistic Variational Principle