Work

Single-particle Fraunhofer diffraction in a classical pilot-wave model

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Walking oil droplets offer a qualitative, classical analog of single-particle diffraction. Making this analog quantitative has proven challenging, leading recent authors to conjecture that no classical pilot-wave model could exhibit Fraunhofer diffraction. We revisit the problem with the recent, Lagrangian pilot-wave model of Darrow and Bush [], and find agreement with both single- and double-slit Fraunhofer patterns. We identify two distinct dynamical features that enable our model to capture Fraunhofer diffraction and distinguish it from previous classical pilot-wave models.

Source: Physical Review Research

DOI: 10.1103/gn48-nxwk

Authors: David Darrow, John W. M. Bush

Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Mechanics and Applications

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,625

Funders: National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate, Office of Naval Research