Probability and complex quantum trajectories
Creators
- 1. Department of Physics, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689 641 (India)
Description
It is shown that in the complex trajectory representation of quantum mechanics, the Born's Ψ*Ψ probability density can be obtained from the imaginary part of the velocity field of particles on the real axis. Extending this probability axiom to the complex plane, we first attempt to find a probability density by solving an appropriate conservation equation. The characteristic curves of this conservation equation are found to be the same as the complex paths of particles in the new representation. The boundary condition in this case is that the extended probability density should agree with the quantum probability rule along the real line. For the simple, time-independent, one-dimensional problems worked out here, we find that a conserved probability density can be derived from the velocity field of particles, except in regions where the trajectories were previously suspected to be nonviable. An alternative method to find this probability density in terms of a trajectory integral, which is easier to implement on a computer and useful for single particle solutions, is also presented. Most importantly, we show, by using the complex extension of Schrodinger equation, that the desired conservation equation can be derived from this definition of probability density
Availability note (English)
Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2008.09.007Additional details
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.aop.2008.09.007;
- arXiv
- arXiv:0809.5101v1;
- PII
- S0003-4916(08)00149-8;
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Annals of Physics (New York)
- Journal Volume
- 324
- Journal Issue
- 1
- Journal Page Range
- p. 220-231
- ISSN
- 0003-4916
- CODEN
- APNYA6
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- INIS RN
- 40044450
- Subject category
- S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
- Descriptors DEI
- BOUNDARY CONDITIONS; COMPLEX MANIFOLDS; HAMILTON-JACOBI EQUATIONS; INTEGRALS; MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS; ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; PROBABILITY; QUANTUM MECHANICS; SCHROEDINGER EQUATION; TRAJECTORIES
- Descriptors DEC
- DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS; EQUATIONS; MATHEMATICAL MANIFOLDS; MECHANICS; PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS; WAVE EQUATIONS
Optional Information
- Copyright
- Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.