English

Space-time symmetric extension of non-relativistic quantum mechanics

Quantum Physics 2017-04-05 v3

Abstract

In quantum theory we refer to the probability of finding a particle between positions xx and x+dxx+dx at the instant tt, although we have no capacity of predicting exactly when the detection occurs. In this work, first we present an extended non-relativistic quantum formalism where space and time play equivalent roles. It leads to the probability of finding a particle between xx and x+dxx+dx during [tt,t+dtt+dt]. Then, we find a Schr\"odinger-like equation for a "mirror" wave function ϕ(t,x)\phi(t,x) associated with the probability of measuring the system between tt and t+dtt+dt, given that detection occurs at xx. In this framework, it is shown that energy measurements of a stationary state display a non-zero dispersion, and that energy-time uncertainty arises from first principles. We show that a central result on arrival time, obtained through approaches that resort to {\it ad hoc} assumptions, is a natural, built-in part of the formalism presented here.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.1605.03121,
  title  = {Space-time symmetric extension of non-relativistic quantum mechanics},
  author = {Eduardo O. Dias and Fernando Parisio},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1605.03121},
  year   = {2017}
}

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6 pages