David Bohm's Paper on Hidden Variables Theory

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SUMMARY

David Bohm's paper on hidden variables theory presents a complex function ψ in terms of R and S, utilizing the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE). The discussion highlights the challenge of deriving the partial derivatives of R and S with respect to time, particularly when applying the chain rule. The key insight is that the TDSE can be separated into real and imaginary components, leading to two distinct equations. This separation is crucial for understanding the implications of Bohm's interpretation of quantum mechanics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles, particularly the Schrödinger equation.
  • Familiarity with complex functions and their derivatives.
  • Knowledge of the chain rule in calculus.
  • Basic grasp of real and imaginary numbers in mathematical contexts.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) in detail.
  • Explore the implications of Bohm's hidden variables theory on quantum mechanics.
  • Learn about Laplacian identities and their applications in quantum physics.
  • Investigate the separation of real and imaginary parts in complex equations.
USEFUL FOR

Students of quantum mechanics, physicists interested in alternative interpretations of quantum theory, and researchers exploring the implications of hidden variables in quantum systems.

The_Inventor
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So I've been reading David Bohm's original paper on the alternative interpretation of quantum mechanics in terms of hidden variables, just out of interest. In the 4th section he presents a complex function ψ in terms of R and S, and then (using the time dependent Schrödinger equation, TISE) gives the partial derivatives of R and S with respect to time. My problem is I can't seem to work out how he did it. The thing I did was to use the chain rule and to take the derivative of ψ with respect to R and S, and then multiply those with the derivatives of R and S with respect to time, respectively. However, from there I got lost because after plugging these back into the TISE, I couldn't seem to simplify the relation to resemble the one in the paper, perhaps there is some laplacian identity that I'm unaware of, or some algebraic manipulation that I can't see. Can anyone help me out??

(I have linked the original paper to this post for reference, page 4 is what my question is on.)
http://fma.if.usp.br/~amsilva/Artigos/p166_1.pdf
 
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The functions ##R## and ##S## are useful because they are real (not complex like ##\Psi##). So when you plug everything back to the TDSE, and multiply the whole expression with ##\Psi^*## to remove the common phase factor ##e^{iS/\hbar}##, you should observe that the resulting equation has two kinds of terms. The ones that are purely real, and the ones that are purely imaginary. This means that the complex TDSE is really two equations, one for the real part and another for the imaginary part. Write down those two equations separately and you should obtain (3) and (4).
 
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