Published June 29, 2007 | Version v1
Journal article

A Dirac sea pilot-wave model for quantum field theory

  • 1. Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, 31 Caroline Street North, Waterloo, ON N2L 2Y5 (Canada)

Description

We present a pilot-wave model for quantum field theory in which the Dirac sea is taken seriously. The model ascribes particle trajectories to all the fermions, including the fermions filling the Dirac sea. The model is deterministic and applies to the regime in which fermion number is superselected. This work is a further elaboration of work by Colin, in which a Dirac sea pilot-wave model is presented for quantum electrodynamics. We extend his work to non-electromagnetic interactions, we discuss a cut-off regularization of the pilot-wave model and study how it reproduces the standard quantum predictions. The Dirac sea pilot-wave model can be seen as a possible continuum generalization of a lattice model by Bell. It can also be seen as a development and generalization of the ideas by Bohm, Hiley and Kaloyerou, who also suggested the use of the Dirac sea for the development of a pilot-wave model for quantum electrodynamics

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/1751-8113/40/26/015;
PII
S1751-8113(07)41407-X;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Physics. A, Mathematical and Theoretical (Online)
Journal Volume
40
Journal Issue
26
Journal Page Range
p. 7309-7341
ISSN
1751-8121

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
38072378
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
BELL THEOREM; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; FERMIONS; QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS; QUANTUM MECHANICS; TRAJECTORIES
Descriptors DEC
ELECTRODYNAMICS; FIELD THEORIES; MECHANICS; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY