Rajat Pradhan | ASGP - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Rajat Pradhan

We investigate the tachyonic nature of the de Broglie matter waves associated with a free quantum... more We investigate the tachyonic nature of the de Broglie matter waves associated with a free quantum object to show that granting reality to them would lend completeness to the quantum description of reality. Basing on the robustness of the well known Einstein-de Broglie reciprocal relation between the phase and the particle velocities, we extend the concept of complementarity to them and thereby propose a complementary relation between a bradyon and its corresponding tachyon (i.e. the associated matter wave) to endow the tachyons with a degree of reality, at least on par with the bradyons, within the current framework of quantum physics and extended relativity. The duality is used to argue that because of the observed localised nature of bradyons, tachyons should always be pervasive or global in character and thus, there can be no point-like tachyons. A common misconception regarding the nonrelativistic limit of the Einstein-de Broglie relation is pointed out and the consequent error of long standing is remedied.

A phenomenological approach using the states of spin-like observables is developed to understand ... more A phenomenological approach using the states of spin-like observables is developed to understand the nature of consciousness and the totality of experience. The three states of consciousness are taken to form the triplet of eigenstates of a spin-one entity and are derived as the triplet resulting from the composition of two spins by treating the subject and the object as interacting two-state, spin-half systems with external and internal projections. The state of deep sleep is analysed in the light of this phenomenological approach and a novel understanding of the status of the individual consciousness in this state is obtained. The resulting fourth state i.e. the singlet state is interpreted to correspond to the superconscious state of intuitive experience and is justified by invoking the concept of the universal consciousness as the underlying source of all individual states of experience. It is proposed that the individual experiences result from the operations of four individualizing observables which project out the individual from the universal. The one-to-one correspondence between the individual and the universal states of experience is brought out and their identity in the fourth state is established by showing that all individualizing quantum numbers become zero in this state leaving no trace of any individuality.

The subjective and the objective aspects of probabilities are incorporated in a simple duality ax... more The subjective and the objective aspects of probabilities are incorporated in a simple duality axiom inspired by observer participation in quantum theory. Transcending the classical notion of probabilities, it is proposed and demonstrated that all probabilities may be fundamentally quantum mechanical in the sense that they may all be derived from the corresponding amplitudes. The classical coin-toss and the quantum double slit interference experiments are discussed as illustrative prototype examples. Absence of multi-order quantum interference effects in multiple-slit experiments and the Experimental tests of complementarity in Wheeler's delayed-choice type experiments are explained using the involvement of the observer.

We study the quantization of a model proposed by Newton to explain centripetal force namely, that... more We study the quantization of a model proposed by Newton to explain centripetal force namely, that of a particle moving on a regular polygon. The exact eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are obtained. The quantum mechanics of a particle moving on a circle and in an infinite potential well are derived as limiting cases.

It is shown that the formalism of quantum theory naturally incorporates the psychophysical parall... more It is shown that the formalism of quantum theory naturally incorporates the psychophysical parallelism and thereby interprets itself, if the subjective aspects are taken as equal partners alongside the objective aspects as determinants of Reality as a Whole. The inevitable interplay of the subject (observer) and the object (observed) in making up Reality is brought out succinctly through a comprehensive psychophysical interpretation which includes in its bosom the truths of many of the major interpretations proposed so far as essential ingredients. At the heart of this novel approach lies the interpretation of the complex conjugate quantities such as the conjugate wave function Ψ*(r, t), the bra vector <Ψ|, and the adjoint operator A † etc. as representing the subjective counterparts of the corresponding objective aspects represented by the wave function Ψ(r, t), the ket vector |Ψ>, and the observable A etc. respectively. This brings out the psycho-physical parallelism lying hidden in the quantum mechanical formalism in a quite straightforward manner. The measurement process is shown to be a two-step process comprising objective interaction through the retarded waves and subjective observation leading to rise of knowledge through the advanced waves.