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Emergence and collapse of quantum mechanical superposition: Orthogonality of reversible dynamics and irreversible diffusion

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  • Grössing, Gerhard
  • Fussy, Siegfried
  • Mesa Pascasio, Johannes
  • Schwabl, Herbert

Abstract

Based on the modelling of quantum systems with the aid of (classical) non-equilibrium thermodynamics, both the emergence and the collapse of the superposition principle are understood within one and the same framework. Both are shown to depend in crucial ways on whether or not an average orthogonality is maintained between reversible Schrödinger dynamics and irreversible processes of diffusion. Moreover, the said orthogonality is already in full operation when dealing with a single free Gaussian wave packet. In an application, the quantum mechanical “decay of the wave packet” is shown to simply result from sub-quantum diffusion with a specific diffusivity varying in time due to a particle’s changing thermal environment. The exact quantum mechanical trajectory distributions and the velocity field of the Gaussian wave packet, as well as Born’s rule, are thus all derived solely from classical physics.

Suggested Citation

  • Grössing, Gerhard & Fussy, Siegfried & Mesa Pascasio, Johannes & Schwabl, Herbert, 2010. "Emergence and collapse of quantum mechanical superposition: Orthogonality of reversible dynamics and irreversible diffusion," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 389(21), pages 4473-4484.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:389:y:2010:i:21:p:4473-4484
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2010.07.017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Y. Couder & S. Protière & E. Fort & A. Boudaoud, 2005. "Walking and orbiting droplets," Nature, Nature, vol. 437(7056), pages 208-208, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mesa Pascasio, J. & Fussy, S. & Schwabl, H. & Grössing, G., 2013. "Modeling quantum mechanical double slit interference via anomalous diffusion: Independently variable slit widths," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 392(12), pages 2718-2727.

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