Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

W. De Baere

Publications and source records attributed to W. De Baere.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2005

On Wave-Particle Duality

By means of a thought-experiment, consisting of an interference experiment with two interfering beams, it is shown that it can be demonstrated experimentally that with one single particle a wave can be associated which propagates in space and time as a physical reality, i.e. that it should not merely be considered as a distribution of probabilities. The notion "physical reality" should be understood such that, when this physical reality is considered in a particular space at a particular time, it should be experimentally possible to influence this reality in such a way that future results of experiments show unambiguously that this reality has been causally influenced by the experimental act in this space and at that time.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2005

Renninger's Thought Experiment: Implications for Quantum Ontology and for Quantum Mechanic's Interpretation

It is argued that the conclusions obtained by Renninger (Zeitschrift fur Physik 136, 251 (1953)), by means of an interferometer thought experiment, have important implications for a number of still ongoing discussions about quantum mechanics (QM). To these belong the ontology underlying QM, Bohr's complementarity principle, the significance of QM's wave function, the "elements of reality" introduced by Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR), and Bohm's version of QM (BQM). A slightly extended setup is used to make a physical prediction at variance with the mathematical prediction of QM. An english translation of Renninger's paper, which was originally published in german language, follows the present paper. This should facilitate access to that remarkable, apparently overlooked and forgotten, paper.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2005

On the Consequences of Retaining the General Validity of Locality in Physical Theory

The empirical validity of the locality (LOC) principle of relativity is used to argue in favour of a local hidden variable theory (HVT) for individual quantum processes. It is shown that such a HVT may reproduce the statistical predictions of quantum mechanics (QM), provided the reproducibility of initial hidden variable states is limited. This means that in a HVT limits should be set to the validity of the notion of counterfactual definiteness (CFD). This is supported by the empirical evidence that past, present, and future are basically distinct. Our argumentation is contrasted with a recent one by Stapp resulting in the opposite conclusion, i.e. nonlocality or the existence of faster-than-light influences. We argue that Stapp's argumentation still depends in an implicit, but crucial, way on both the notions of hidden variables and of CFD. In addition, some implications of our results for the debate between Bohr and Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen are discussed.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2004

On the uniqueness of paths for spin-0 and spin-1 quantum mechanics

The uniqueness of the Bohmian particle interpretation of the Kemmer equation, which describes massive spin-0 and spin-1 particles, is discussed. Recently the same problem for spin-1/2 was dealt with by Holland. It appears that the uniqueness of boson paths can be enforced under well determined conditions. This in turn fixes the nonrelativistic particle equations of the nonrelativistic Schrodinger equation, which appear to correspond with the original definitions given by de Broglie and Bohm only in the spin-0 case. Similar to the spin-1/2 case, there appears an additional spin-dependent term in the guidance equation in the spin-1 case. We also discuss the ambiguity associated with the introduction of an electromagnetic coupling in the Kemmer theory. We argue that when the minimal coupling is correctly introduced, then the current constructed from the energy-momentum tensor is no longer conserved. Hence this current can not serve as a particle probability four-vector.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2004

On Peres' statement "opposite momenta lead to opposite directions", decaying systems and optical imaging

We re-examine Peres' statement ``opposite momenta lead to opposite directions''. It will be shown that Peres' statement is only valid in the large distance or large time limit. In the short distance or short time limit an additional deviation from perfect alignment occurs due to the uncertainty of the location of the source. This error contribution plays a major role in Popper's orginal experimental proposal. Peres' statement applies rather to the phenomenon of optical imaging, which was regarded by him as a verification of his statement. This is because this experiment can in a certain sense be seen as occurring in the large distance limit. We will also reconsider both experiments from the viewpoint of Bohmian mechanics. In Bohmian mechanics particles with exactly opposite momenta will move in opposite directions. In addition it will prove particularly usefull to use Bohmian mechanics because the Bohmian trajectories coincide with the conceptual trajectories drawn by Pittman et al. In this way Bohmian mechanics provides a theoretical basis for these conceptual trajectories.

quant-ph↗