arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Guy Potvin.
We propose the idea that in Bohmian mechanics the wavefunction is related to a density of states and explore some of its consequences. Specifically, it allows a maximum-entropy interpretation of quantum probabilities, which creates a stronger link between it and statistical mechanics. The proposed approach also allows a range of extensions of the guidance condition in Bohmian mechanics.
Jaynes' criticism of Bell's theorem is examined. It is found that Bell's reasoning leading to his theorem is sound when properly interpreted. The nature of physical influence and logical inference in quantum mechanics, and its relationship with the notions of realism and locality, is discussed.
An interpretation of quantum mechanics is proposed which augments the stochastic pilot-wave model, introduced by Nelson [E. Nelson, Phys. Rev., 150, 1079 (1966)], with a dual guidance condition. Namely, in addition to the stochastic guidance condition which describes how the wave controls the particle (wave-to-particle guidance condition), we introduce another stochastic guidance condition describing how the particle guides the wave (particle-to-wave guidance condition). We therefore introduce an action-reaction principle in the pilot-wave formulation of quantum mechanics. The particle-to-wave guidance condition takes the form of spontaneous transitions of the wavefunction that are Poisson distributed in time. The wavefunction selected by the transition is influenced by its likelyhood with respect to the particle position, as well as certain conservation constraints. It is shown that the stochastic particle-to-wave guidance condition reproduces certain aspects of the spontaneous localization model of Ghirardi, Rimini and Weber [G. C. Ghirardi, A. Rimini and T. Weber, Phys. Rev. D, 34, 470 (1986)], and of Milburn's intrinsic decoherence model [G. J. Milburn, Phys. Rev. A, 44, 5401 (1991)], while avoiding some of the difficulties associated with them. The macroscopic limit of the dualist interpretation is analyzed for the case of a free body. Possible improvements of this interpretation are discussed.