Why is this Pilot-wave model on a discrete spacetime stochastic?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the necessity of stochasticity in the pilot-wave model when applied to a discrete spacetime lattice, as presented in the referenced paper. The model describes quantum particle motion through a |Ψ|^2-distributed Markov chain, emphasizing that the introduction of a Markovian process is essential when time is discretized. The randomness inherent in the model arises from the discrete nature of spacetime, which complicates the direct application of deterministic Bohmian mechanics. The paper asserts that transforming a discrete distribution from initial to subsequent states cannot occur deterministically, necessitating a stochastic framework.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of pilot-wave theory and its implications in quantum mechanics.
  • Familiarity with discrete spacetime models and their characteristics.
  • Knowledge of Markov chains and their application in stochastic processes.
  • Basic principles of Bohmian mechanics and its deterministic nature.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of discrete spacetime in quantum mechanics.
  • Explore various formulations of deterministic Bohmian mechanics on discrete lattices.
  • Investigate the role of Markovian processes in quantum theories.
  • Review the mathematical foundations of stochastic processes in quantum mechanics.
USEFUL FOR

Researchers in quantum mechanics, theoretical physicists exploring pilot-wave models, and students studying the implications of discrete spacetime on quantum theories.

Ali Lavasani
Messages
54
Reaction score
1
Look at the paper in the link below:
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10701-016-0026-7.pdf
It introduces a pilot-wave model on a discrete spacetime lattice. However, the pilot-wave model is not deterministic; the motion of quantum particles is described by a |Ψ|^2-distributed Markov chain. It mentions that "Introducing Markovian process is crucial, if time is discretized" and "The discreteness is by itself responsible for the randomness of the motion on the basic level".

My question is, WHY must a Bohmian model be stochastic if the space and time are discrete, in other words, what happens if one tries to simply generalize the commonplace deterministic Bohmian mechanics to the case in which the spacetime is a discrete lattice?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Bohmian mechanics certainly does not necessarily need to be stochastic when space and time are discrete. But if you want it to be deterministic, then there is more than one way to do it, so the theory is not unique.
 
This is another thing they have mentioned:

The transformation of a discrete distribution|t0|^2, e.g. at the slits, into the discrete distribution|t|^2, e.g. far from the slits, cannot be made in a non-stochastic manner, as it would require transitions from every (initial or intermediate) state into a single subsequent state."

Of course there might be several ways to define a deterministic Bohmian theory on a discrete spacetime, but what are these ways? My question was, why we would fail if we just repeat what we did in the continuous spacetime in the discrete one, without any change? What's the reason they have invoked stochasticity, what requirement has it fulfilled?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 212 ·
8
Replies
212
Views
28K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 75 ·
3
Replies
75
Views
14K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K