Quantized electron orbits in Bohmian mechanics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of electrons in Bohmian mechanics, specifically addressing why electrons do not lose energy while orbiting a nucleus, in contrast to classical mechanics where accelerated charges radiate energy. Participants explore the implications of the pilot wave concept and the role of the wave function in this interpretation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why electrons in Bohmian mechanics do not lose energy as they orbit the nucleus, given that classical mechanics suggests moving charges radiate energy.
  • Others argue that in Bohmian mechanics, the electron's position is irrelevant to radiation, which depends solely on the wave function.
  • There is a contention regarding the interpretation of "radiation," with some participants seeking clarification on what is meant by electromagnetic radiation in this context.
  • Some participants assert that Bohmian mechanics differs fundamentally from classical mechanics, suggesting that classical principles should not be applied to Bohmian particles.
  • There is a discussion about the deterministic nature of measurement outcomes in Bohmian mechanics, which depend on the initial position of the particle.
  • Participants express confusion over the role of the pilot wave and whether it is the wave function or the particle that influences electromagnetic interactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the implications of Bohmian mechanics on electron behavior and radiation. The discussion remains unresolved, with differing interpretations of the role of the wave function and particle position.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight that classical mechanics principles may not apply in the context of Bohmian mechanics, but the specifics of how this distinction affects electron behavior are not fully clarified. There are also references to the influence of particle position on interactions, which remains a point of contention.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring interpretations of quantum mechanics, particularly Bohmian mechanics, and the implications for electron behavior in atomic systems.

bluecap
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I entered in physicsforums archive search the wildcards "bohmian why electrons don't lose energy atom" but only got one hit that isn't related to it. In Bohmian mechanics, electron is localized and has trajectory.. why can't it lose energy as it rotates around the nucleus? What wildcard words must I enter to read previous answer about it? Or can anyone answer it?
 
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The electron position in Bohmian mechanics does not matter, the radiation depends on the wave function only.
Waves act on particles, but those don't act back on waves.
 
mfb said:
The electron position in Bohmian mechanics does not matter, the radiation depends on the wave function only.
Waves act on particles, but those don't act back on waves.

What? In classical mechanics.. moving charges lose energy. What do you mean by "radiation"? radiation of what? The particle in Bohmian is localized.. so as the pilot wave rotate around the nucleus.. the localized particle also rotate around the nucleus.. does it not? Hence should lose energy.
 
bluecap said:
What do you mean by "radiation"? radiation of what?
Electronmagnetic radiation. The process of the energy loss.
bluecap said:
In classical mechanics.. moving charges lose energy.
Accelerated charges, not moving. Yes, but this is not classical mechanics, so you should not expect classical mechanics to apply.
 
mfb said:
Electronmagnetic radiation. The process of the energy loss.Accelerated charges, not moving. Yes, but this is not classical mechanics, so you should not expect classical mechanics to apply.

So what you were stating was "the electromagnetic radiation depends on the wave function only".. but this is in Copenhagen where particles are the wave function. In Bohmian, the particles are not the wave function, the particles are particles and the wave function is the pilot wave.. therefore you can't use the facts in Copenhagen to say it is the pilot wave that is accelerating.. shouldn't they be the localized particles?
 
bluecap said:
So what you were stating was "the electromagnetic radiation depends on the wave function only".. but this is in Copenhagen where particles are the wave function.
It is true in all interpretations. It is usually called pilot wave in Bohmian mechanics instead of wave function, but that is just a different name. The particle position is irrelevant for interactions. It simply does not appear in the equations for those interactions.
 
mfb said:
It is true in all interpretations. It is usually called pilot wave in Bohmian mechanics instead of wave function, but that is just a different name. The particle position is irrelevant for interactions. It simply does not appear in the equations for those interactions.

So currents in Bohmian is produced by moving pilot wave and not moving particles...
so what is the relevance of particle position? What properties does it give ...
 
In measurements, it picks one outcome which is considered as "the universe", the other ("possible") outcomes can be discarded after decoherence. Instead of random chance like for collapse interpretations, the measurement result is deterministic and depends on the unknown initial position of the particle.
 
mfb said:
In measurements, it picks one outcome which is considered as "the universe", the other ("possible") outcomes can be discarded after decoherence. Instead of random chance like for collapse interpretations, the measurement result is deterministic and depends on the unknown initial position of the particle.

Are what you were saying the original concept in Bohmian Mechanics? Or updated concept by other authors? I thought the pilot wave pulled on the particle like a string or a horse on the cart, so the particle is the one with accelerating charges.
 
  • #10
Mentor says: Several posts leading to an off-topic digression about whether Bohmian interpretations are valid have been removed. There's a question in the first post of this thread; try to stick with it.
 
  • #11
bluecap said:
I entered in physicsforums archive search the wildcards "bohmian why electrons don't lose energy atom" but only got one hit that isn't related to it. In Bohmian mechanics, electron is localized and has trajectory.. why can't it lose energy as it rotates around the nucleus? What wildcard words must I enter to read previous answer about it? Or can anyone answer it?
In classical mechanics, an accelerated charge radiates. But Bohmian mechanics is not classical mechanics. Classical particles have a direct influence on the electromagnetic field (the influence is described by the inhomogeneous Maxwell equations), which is why they radiate. Bohmian particles do not have such influence on the electromagnetic field.
 
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