Schrödinger Waves Aren't Like EM Waves
Schrödinger wave functions for electrons are fundamentally different from electromagnetic waves for photons and are not physical entities in some interpretations of quantum mechanics.
Takeways• Schrödinger wave functions differ fundamentally from electromagnetic waves.
• Electrons, or fermions, have associated Dirac fields that are not their Schrödinger wave functions.
• Some interpretations view Schrödinger waves as mathematical constructs, not physical entities.
The relationship between an electron and its Schrödinger wave function is distinct from that of a photon and an electromagnetic wave, despite both electrons and photons being particles. Electrons, as fermions, have associated Dirac fields, but these are not the Schrödinger wave function. The conceptual differences are subtle but crucial for understanding wave-particle duality and the limitations of certain quantum theories.
Distinguishing Wave Types
• 00:00:00 The relationship between a photon and an electromagnetic wave is not analogous to that between an electron and its Schrödinger wave function. While electrons (fermions) do have associated fields, such as the Dirac field important in the standard model, this Dirac field is distinct from the Schrödinger wave. Unlike classical electromagnetic fields, the fields associated with fermions are described as more 'bizarre' and are difficult for theories like Bohmian mechanics to address.
Schrödinger Waves as Non-Physical
• 00:01:32 In the 'indivisible stochastic approach,' Schrödinger waves are not considered part of fundamental physics, meaning they are not physically present. Although wave functions can be mathematically formulated in Hilbert space, they are not necessary to explain interference patterns. This approach posits that indivisible stochastic dynamics itself predicts the appearance of wave-like patterns over many experimental repetitions, without an actual physical wave being involved in the experiments.