The quantum potential: symplectic breakdown and dispersion
Year: 1997
Type: preprint
Abstract: This paper investigates the composition of the quantum potential and explores its role in the breakdown of symplectic symmetry in quantum mechanics. General expressions are derived for the quantum potential in both configuration space and momentum space representations. By comparing the configuration space and momentum space representations of the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics, the quantum potential is shown to break the symplectic symmetry that exists between these two representations in classical mechanics. It is shown that the quantum potential in configuration space may be expressed as the sum of a momentum dispersion energy and a spatial localisation energy. The quantum potential is thus shown to represent the solely quantum aspects of quantum systems. The composition and role of the quantum potential is analysed for a particle in a linear potential and for two eigenstates of the quantum harmonic oscillator.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Author: M. R. Brown
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W207983239