English

Asymmetric random walks in a discrete spacetime as a model for quantum mechanics

Quantum Physics 2015-01-27 v3

Abstract

This paper presents a simple model that mimics quantum mechanics (QM) results in terms of probability fields of free particles subject to self-interference, without using Schr\"{o}dinger equation or wavefunctions. Unlike the standard QM picture, the proposed model only uses integer-valued quantities and arithmetic operations. In particular, it assumes a discrete spacetime under the form of an euclidean lattice. The proposed approach describes individual particle trajectories as random walks. Transition probabilities are simple functions of a few quantities that are either randomly associated to the particles during their preparation, or stored in the lattice sites they visit during the walk. Non-relativistic QM predictions, particularly self-interference, are retrieved as probability distributions of similarly-prepared ensembles of particles. Extension to interacting particles is discussed but not detailed in this paper.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1312.5977,
  title  = {Asymmetric random walks in a discrete spacetime as a model for quantum mechanics},
  author = {Antonio Sciarretta},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1312.5977},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

33 pages, 6 figures, improved version; arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:0709.2426