The zitterbewegung interpretation of quantum mechanics (original) (raw)

Zitterbewegung in Quantum Mechanics

Foundations of Physics, 2010

The possibility that zitterbewegung opens a window to particle substructure in quantum mechanics is explored by constructing a particle model with structural features inherent in the Dirac equation. This paper develops a self-contained dynamical model of the electron as a lightlike particle with helical zitterbewegung and electromagnetic interactions. The model admits periodic solutions with quantized energy, and the correct magnetic moment is generated by charge circulation. It attributes to the electron an electric dipole moment rotating with ultrahigh frequency, and the possibility of observing this directly as a resonance in electron channeling is analyzed in detail. Correspondence with the Dirac equation is discussed. A modification of the Dirac equation is suggested to incorporate the rotating dipole moment.

Zitterbewegung in Quantum Mechanics -- a research program

2008

Spacetime Algebra (STA) provides unified, matrix-free spinor methods for rotational dynamics in classical theory as well as quantum mechanics. That makes it an ideal tool for studying particle models of zitterbewegung and using them to study zitterbewegung in the Dirac theory. This paper develops a self-contained dynamical model of the electron as a lightlike particle with helical zitterbewegung and electromagnetic interactions. It attributes to the electron an electric dipole moment oscillating with ultrahigh frequency, and the possibility of observing this directly as a resonance in electron channeling is analyzed in detail. A modification of the Dirac equation is suggested to incorporate the oscillating dipole moment. That enables extension of the Dirac equation to incorporate electroweak interactions in a new way.

About zitterbewegung and electron structure

Physics Letters B, 1993

We start from the spinning electron theory by Barut and Zanghi, which has been recently translated into the Clifford algebra language. We "complete" such a translation, first of all, by expressing in the Clifford formalism a particular Barut-Zanghi (BZ) solution, which refers (at the classical limit) to an "internal" helical motion with a time-like speed [and is here shown to originate from the superposition of positive and negative frequency solutions of the Dirac equation].

Electromagnetic Potentials, Zitterbewegung, and the Electron Wave Function

In this paper, we delve into the potential implications of the Aharonov-Bohm effect on the conventional interpretation of the wave function, suggesting that the effect may reveal deeper connections between quantum mechanics and electromagnetic potentials. We extend this exploration by investigating the relationship between zitterbewegung, the rapid oscillatory motion of electrons, and their observable motion. We propose that the electron's wave function could be interpreted as a manifestation of oscillatory changes in its electromagnetic potentials. These changes are influenced by both the intrinsic zitterbewegung oscillations, which arise from the electron's rest energy, and the electron's momentum-dependent motion through space. Furthermore, we consider how this interpretation can provide a physical basis for phenomena such as quantum interference and phase shifts, offering a new perspective on the role of electromagnetic potentials in quantum mechanics. Through this approach, we aim to bridge the gap between classical electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanical descriptions, potentially leading to novel insights into the nature of quantum systems.

Zitterbewegung and the Magnetic Moment of the Electron

2013

Zitterbewegung of a Dirac electron is an oscillation between positive and negative energy states, and is thus distinct from the analogous phenomena exhibited by spin half charged particles in electric and magnetic fields. Quantum field theory offers an insight into the velocity operator and provides an interpretation of zitterbewegung. Applying stationary perturbation theory to these results the electron g factor is obtained analytically up to the Schwinger correction (g = 2 + α/π).

Measuring Zitterbewegung Predicted by the Dirac Equation for a Free Electron

Charge (CoC) shell, Zitterbewegung, static point electron, the electron's internal harmonic oscillator, the Dirac Electron Model, the electron as a stable fluctuation in the vacuum, hydrogen atom, entangled electron/proton radius puzzle ABSTRACT The fact that the Dirac Equation predicts Zitterbewegung (ZBW) for a free electron is well known from Schrödinger [1] from the very early days of Dirac's relativistic quantum theory. Schrödinger described ZBW qualitatively as a persistent interference between positive and negative energy states, and the objective of this and previous papers by the author [2,3] is to describe ways to measure the presence or absence of ZBW for a free (or nearly free) electron. If ZBW measurements show that it is not present for a free electron, then the Dirac Equation and Schrödinger's analysis [1] are inaccurate. If ZBW is present as Schrödinger's analysis [1] of the Dirac Equation asserts, than a description of a free electron emerges that is significantly different than the present very small, static point electron with 'intrinsic" properties of spin and magnetic moment accepted by most physicists [4] today. This paper develops a quantitative theory of the free electron directly from the Dirac Equation and Schrödinger's analyses [1] without any other assumptions.

Wave-particle duality and the zitterbewegung

Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2021

In previous work, the Hamilton-Jacobi equation has been associated with the metrics of general relativity and shown to be a generalized Dirac equation for quantum mechanics. This lends itself to a natural definition of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics. This theory is now further developed to show that a free spinless quantum particle moving with velocity v obeys the standard wave equation of electro-magnetism. We also discuss the implications for the zitterbewegung problem and its relationship to isotropy. Moreover, it is also shown that for the theory to be consistent, the momentum defined by the Hamilton-.!acobi function presupposes the existence of a universal parameter internal to the system. In the case of particles with mass this invariant can be defined by dX = dt/m(t) where t has the units of time and m = m(t) has the units of mass.

SPIN AND ZITTERBEWEGUNG IN A FIELD THEORY OF THE ELECTRON

Electronic Journal of Theoretical Physics, 2018

In previous papers we investigated the classical theory of Barut and Zanghi (BZ) for the electron spin [who interpreted the Zitterbewegung (zbw) motion as an internal motion along helical paths], and its " quantum " version, just by using the language of Clifford algebras; and, in so doing, we ended with a new non-linear Dirac-like equation (NDE). We want to re-address in this Review the whole subject, and extend it, by translating it however into the ordinary tensorial language, within the frame of a first quantization formalism. In particular, we re-derive here the NDE for the electron field, and show it to be associated with a new conserved probability current (which allows us to work out a " quantum probabilistic " interpretation of the NDE). Incidentally, the Dirac equation results from the former by averaging over a zbw cycle. Afterward, we derive an equation of motion for the 4-velocity field, which allows us to regard the electron as an extended-like object with a classically intelligible internal structure. We carefully study the solutions of the NDE; with special attention to those implying (at the classical limit) light-like helical motions, since they appear to be the most adequate solutions for the electron description from the kinematical and physical points of view, and do cope with the electromagnetic properties of the electron. At last we introduce a natural generalization of our approach, for the case in which an external electromagnetic potential A^\mu is present; it happens to be based on a new system of five first-order differential field equations.

Zitterbewegung and the Charge of an Electron

2020

Dirac's Relativistic Wave Equation implies a measured electron velocity of pmc\pm cpmc in any direction, in contradiction to Special Relativity and observation. It is shown in this article that this anomalous electron velocity reveals an internal structure of the electron whereby the mass and the charge of the electron cannot be described by the same position operator. The measured velocity of electron mass is always less than ccc in any direction but charge can be displaced at the speed of light. This speed is realizable only when the electron is in a state that is a superposition of positive and negative energy states, also known as a zitterbewegung state. It is shown that in zitterbewegung it is the charge and not the mass that undergoes rapid spatial oscillation, and that there are measurable consequences of this charge zitterbewegung. Zitterbewegung of charge also occurs in an entangled electron-positron pair created by a strong electric field.