An ontological basis for the quantum theory. Pt. 1

In this paper we systematically develop an ontology that is consistent with the quantum theory. We start with the causal interpretation of the quantum theory, which assumes that the electron is a particle always accompanied by a wave satisfying Schroedinger's equation. This wave determines a quantum potential, which has several qualitatively new features, that account for the difference between classical theory and quantum theory. Firstly, it depends only on the form of the wave function and not on its amplitude, so that its effect does not necessarily fall off with the distance. From this, it follows that a system may not be separable from distant features of its environment, and may be non-locally connected to other systems that are quite far away from it. Secondly, in a many-body system, the quantum potential depends on the overall quantum state in a way that cannot be expressed as a preassigned interaction among the particles. These two features of the quantum potential together imply a certain new quality of quantum wholeness which is brought out in some detail in this article. Thirdly, the quantum potential can develop unstable bifurcation points, which separate classes of particle trajectories according to the ''channels'' into which they eventually enter and within which they stay. This explains how measurement is possible without ''collapse'' of the wave function, and how all sorts of quantum processes, such as transitions between states, fusion of two systems into one and fission of one system into two, are able to take place without the need for a human observer. Finally, we show how the classical limit is approached in a simple way, whenever the quantum potential is small compared with the contributions to the energy that would be present classically. (orig.)