Bohmian mechanics is a causal interpretation of quantum mechanics in which particles describe trajectories guided by the wave function. The dynamics in the vicinity of nodes of the wave function, usually called vortices, is regular if they are at rest. However, vortices generically move during time evolution of the system. We show that this movement is the origin of chaotic behavior of quantum trajectories. As an example, our general result is illustrated numerically in the two-dimensional isotropic harmonic oscillator.
We make a short review of the most general mechanism for the generation of chaos in 2-d Bohmian trajectories, the so called `nodal point-X-point complex' (NPXPC) mechanism. The presentation is based on numerical calculations made with Maple and is enriched with new results on the details of the generation of chaos, and the form of the potential around the NPXPC.
We study in detail the onset of chaos and the probability measures formed by individual Bohmian trajectories in entangled states of two-qubit systems for various degrees of entanglement. The qubit systems consist of coherent states of 1-d harmonic oscillators with irrational frequencies. In weakly entangled states chaos is manifested through the sudden jumps of the Bohmian trajectories between successive Lissajous-like figures. These jumps are succesfully interpreted by the `nodal point-X-point complex' mechanism. In strongly entangled states, the chaotic form of the Bohmian trajectories is ma…
We provide a general theory for the structure of the quantum flow near 3-d nodal lines, i.e. one-dimensional loci where the 3-d wavefunction becomes equal to zero. In suitably defined co- ordinates (co-moving with the nodal line) the generic structure of the flow implies the formation of 3-d quantum vortices. We show that such vortices are accompanied by nearby invariant lines of the co-moving quantum flow, called X-lines, which are normally hyperbolic. Furthermore, the stable and unstable manifolds of the X-lines produce chaotic scatterings of nearby quantum (Bohmian) trajectories, thus induc…
The Bohm motion for a particle moving on the line in a quantum state that is a superposition of n+1 energy eigenstates is quasiperiodic with n frequencies.
In Bohmian mechanics, the nodes of the wave function play an important role in the generation of chaos. However, so far, most of the attention has been on moving nodes; little is known about the possibility of chaos in the case of stationary nodes. We address this question by considering stationary states, which provide the simplest examples of wave functions with stationary nodes. We provide examples of stationary wave functions for which there is chaos, as demonstrated by numerical computations, for one particle moving in 3 spatial dimensions and for two and three entangled particles in two …
This is a short review in the theory of chaos in Bohmian Quantum Mechanics based on our series of works in this field. Our first result is the development of a generic theoretical mechanism responsible for the generation of chaos in an arbitrary Bohmian system (in 2 and 3 dimensions). This mechanism allows us to explore the effect of chaos on Bohmian trajectories and study in detail (both analytically and numerically) the different kinds of Bohmian trajectories where, in general, chaos and order coexist. Finally we explore the effect of quantum entanglement on the evolution of the Bohmian traj…
We study the 3-d Bohmian trajectories of a quantum system of three harmonic oscillators. We focus on the mechanism responsible for the generation of chaotic trajectories. We demonstrate the existence of a 3-d analogue of the mechanism found in earlier studies of 2-d systems, based on moving 2-d `nodal point - X-point complexes'. In the 3-d case, we observe a foliation of nodal point - X-point complexes, forming a `3-d structure of nodal and X-points'. Chaos is generated when the Bohmian trajectories are scattered at one or more close encounters with such a structure.
We study the Bohmian dynamics of a large class of bipartite systems of non-ideal qubit systems, by modifying the basic physical parameters of an ideal two-qubit system, made of coherent states of the quantum harmonic oscillator. First we study the case of coherent states with truncated energy levels and large amplitudes. Then we study non-truncated coherent states but with small amplitudes and finally a combination of the above cases. In all cases we find that the chaotic Bohmian trajectories are approximately ergodic. We also study the number and the spatial arrangement of the nodal points of…
Chaos in Bohmian Quantum Mechanics is an open field of research. In general, most of the 3-d Bohmian trajectories are free to wander around the 3-d space. However there are cases where the evolution of the trajectories is dictated by exact or approximate integrals of motion. A first case corresponds to partial integrability, where the trajectories (ordered and chaotic) evolve on certain integral surfaces. A second case corresponds to ordered trajectories. In this paper we extend our previous work in 3-d Bohmian Chaos by using both forms of integrability and discuss their physical implications.
In this paper we examine the evolution of Bohmian trajectories in the presence of quantum entanglement. We study a simple two-qubit system composed of two coherent states and investigate the impact of quantum entanglement on chaotic and ordered trajectories via both numerical and analytical calculations.
Frequency Detuning and Interference-Induced Bohmian Chaos in a Two-Dimensional Anisotropic Harmonic Oscillator
Centre of Foundation Studies in Science of Universiti Putra Malaysia (ASPutra), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)(博特拉大学科学基础研究中心);Institute for Mathematical Research (INSPEM) Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)(博特拉大学数学研究所);Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)(博特拉大学理学院物理系);Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)(马来西亚国立大学科技与理学院应用物理系)
The simplest non-trivial model of chaotic Bohmian dynamics is identified. We argue that its most important features can be observed in more complex models, above all, the presumable mechanism of the appearance of chaos in the Bohmian-type dynamical systems.
A new quantum mechanical description of the dynamics of wave packet under continuous measurement is formulated via Bohmian mechanics. The solution to this equation is found through a wave packet approach which establishes a direct correlation between a classical variable with a quantum variable describing the dynamics of the center of mass and the width of the wave packet. The approach presented in this paper gives a comparatively clearer picture than approaches using restrited path integrals and master equation approaches. This work shows how the extremely irregular character of classical cha…
We consider the Bohmian trajectories in a 2-d quantum harmonic oscillator with non commensurable frequencies whose wavefunction is of the form $Ψ=aΨ_{m_1,n_1}(x,y)+bΨ_{m_2,n_2}(x,y)+cΨ_{m_3,n_3}(x,y)$. We first find the trajectories of the nodal points for different combinations of the quantum numbers $m,n$. Then we study, in detail, a case with relatively large quantum numbers and two equal $m's$. We find %We find first the nodal points where $Ψ=0$. The nodes can be found analytically only if $m$ and $n$ are small. If two $m's$ (or two $n's$ are equal we can find explicitly the nodal points ,…
We explore the transition from order to chaos for the Bohmian trajectories of a simple quantum system corresponding to the superposition of three stationary states in a 2D harmonic well with incommensurable frequencies. We study in particular the role of nodal points in the transition to chaos. Our main findings are: a) A proof of the existence of bounded domains in configuration space which are devoid of nodal points, b) An analytical construction of formal series representing regular orbits in the central domain as well as a numerical investigation of its limits of applicability. c) A detail…
It is usual to identify initial conditions of classical dynamical systems with mathematical real numbers. However, almost all real numbers contain an infinite amount of information. I argue that a finite volume of space can't contain more than a finite amount of information, hence that the mathematical real numbers are not physically relevant. Moreover, a better terminology for the so-called real numbers is ``random numbers'', as their series of bits are truly random. I propose an alternative classical mechanics, which is empirically equivalent to classical mechanics, but uses only finite-info…
Vortices are known to play a key role in the dynamics of the quantum trajectories defined within the framework of the de Broglie-Bohm formalism of quantum mechanics. It has been rigourously proved that the motion of a vortex in the associated velocity field can induce chaos in these trajectories, and numerical studies have explored the rich variety of behaviors that due to their influence can be observed. In this paper, we go one step further and show how the theory of dynamical systems can be used to construct a general and systematic classification of such dynamical behaviors. This should co…
Quantum systems in specific regimes display recurrences at the period of the periodic orbits of the corresponding classical system. We investigate the excited hydrogen atom in a magnetic field -- a prototypical system of 'quantum chaos' -- from the point of view of the de Broglie Bohm (BB) interpretation of quantum mechanics. The trajectories predicted by BB theory are computed and contrasted with the time evolution of the wavefunction, which shows pronounced features at times matching the period of closed orbits of the classical hydrogen in a magnetic field problem. Individual BB trajectories…
In this work we derive Born's rule from the pilot-wave theory of de Broglie and Bohm. Based on a toy model involving a particle coupled to a environement made of "qubits" (i.e., Bohmian pointers) we show that entanglement together with deterministic chaos lead to a fast relaxation from any statistitical distribution $ρ(x)$ (of finding a particle at point $x$) to the Born probability law $|Ψ(x)|^2$. Our model is discussed in the context of Boltzmann's kinetic theory and we demonstrate a kind of H theorem for the relaxation to the quantum equilibrium regime.
The de Broglie-Bohm interpretation of quantum mechanics aims to give a realist description of quantum phenomena in terms of the motion of point-like particles following well-defined trajectories. This work is concerned by the de Broglie-Bohm account of the properties of semiclassical systems. Semiclassical systems are quantum systems that display the manifestation of classical trajectories: the wavefunction and the observable properties of such systems depend on the trajectories of the classical counterpart of the quantum system. For example the quantum properties have a regular or disordered …
The motion of a single vortex is able to originate chaos in the quantum trajectories defined in Bohm's interpretation of quantum mechanics. In this Letter, we show that this is also the case in the general situation, in which many interacting vortices exist. This result gives support to recent attempts in which Born's probability rule is derived in terms of an irreversible time evolution to equilibrium, rather than being postulated.
The ubiquitous ether coming from the ancient times up to middle of the twenty century is replaced by a superfluid quantum space. It represents by itself a Bose-Einstein condensate consisting of enormous amount of virtual particle-antiparticle pairs emerging and disappearing in an infinitely ongoing dance. Flowing of this medium in the non-relativistic limit is described by the modified Navier-Stokes equation along with the continuity equation. The first equation admits the splitting on to two coupled equations. They are the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi equation and the equation for vorticity. The q…
We discuss the main mechanisms generating chaotic behavior of the quantum trajectories in the de Broglie - Bohm picture of quantum mechanics, in systems of two and three degrees of freedom. In the 2D case, chaos is generated via multiple scatterings of the trajectories with one or more `nodal point - X-point complexes'. In the 3D case, these complexes form foliations along `nodal lines' accompanied by `X-lines'. We also identify cases of integrable or partially integrable quantum trajectories. The role of chaos is important in interpreting the dynamical origin of the `quantum relaxation' effec…
The Bohmian formulation of quantum mechanics is used in order to describe the measurement process in an intuitive way without a reduction postulate in the framework of a deterministic single system theory. Thereby the motion of the hidden classical particle is chaotic during almost all nontrivial measurement processes. For the correct reproduction of experimental results, it is further essential that the distribution function $P(x)$ of the results of a position measurement is identical with $|Ψ|^2$ of the wavefunction $Ψ$ of the single system under consideration. It is shown that this feature …
Numerical simulations indicate that the Born rule does not need to be postulated in the de Broglie-Bohm pilot-wave theory, but arises dynamically (relaxation to quantum equilibrium). These simulations were done for a particle in a two-dimensional box whose wave-function obeys the non-relativistic Schroedinger equation and is therefore scalar. The chaotic nature of the de Broglie-Bohm trajectories, thanks to the nodes of the wave-function which act as vortices, is crucial for a fast relaxation to quantum equilibrium. For spinors, we typically do not expect any node. However, in the case of the …