TY - CONF
T1 - Exploring the propagation of relativistic quantum wavepackets in the trajectory-based formulation
AU - Tsai, Hung-Ming
AU - Poirier, Lionel
PY - 2016/3/30
Y1 - 2016/3/30
N2 - Abstract. In the context of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, Gaussian wavepacket
solutions of the time-dependent Schr¨odinger equation provide useful physical insight. This
is not the case for relativistic quantum mechanics, however, for which both the Klein–Gordon
and Dirac wave equations result in strange and counterintuitive wavepacket behaviors, even for
free-particle Gaussians. These behaviors include zitterbewegung and other interference effects.
As a potential remedy, this paper explores a new trajectory-based formulation of quantum
mechanics, in which the wavefunction plays no role [Phys. Rev. X, 4, 040002 (2014)]. Quantum
states are represented as ensembles of trajectories, whose mutual interaction is the source of
all quantum effects observed in nature—suggesting a “many interacting worlds” interpretation.
It is shown that the relativistic generalization of the trajectory-based formulation results in
well-behaved free-particle Gaussian wavepacket solutions. In particular,
AB - Abstract. In the context of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, Gaussian wavepacket
solutions of the time-dependent Schr¨odinger equation provide useful physical insight. This
is not the case for relativistic quantum mechanics, however, for which both the Klein–Gordon
and Dirac wave equations result in strange and counterintuitive wavepacket behaviors, even for
free-particle Gaussians. These behaviors include zitterbewegung and other interference effects.
As a potential remedy, this paper explores a new trajectory-based formulation of quantum
mechanics, in which the wavefunction plays no role [Phys. Rev. X, 4, 040002 (2014)]. Quantum
states are represented as ensembles of trajectories, whose mutual interaction is the source of
all quantum effects observed in nature—suggesting a “many interacting worlds” interpretation.
It is shown that the relativistic generalization of the trajectory-based formulation results in
well-behaved free-particle Gaussian wavepacket solutions. In particular,
U2 - 10.1088/1742-6596/701/1/012013
DO - 10.1088/1742-6596/701/1/012013
M3 - Paper
ER -