Interpretation of a free particle Wigner function

Riley B. Dawkins
Prof. Taner Edis, Faculty Mentor

The wave function for a free particle can be transformed via the Wigner Transformation into a real-valued function in phase space. This “Wigner function” exhibits quantum interference for certain values of momentum: in the interference region, the Wigner function is sometimes negative. These oscillations between positive and negative values could, potentially, be explained by a current representing the particle moving back-and-forth in time as well as space. The desired form of the current was used to derive, from vector calculus, a possible expression for the underlying current. The discovered candidate for the current is a series of particle trajectories that look like infinitely long horse-shoes, including movement both forward and backward in time, stacked atop each other in a row. Work is currently being done to develop a self-collision rule which could explain this pattern.

Keywords: Quantum, Wigner function, Free particle, Theoretical physics, Time

Topic(s):Physics

Presentation Type: Oral Presentation

Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA