47 research outputs found
Times of arrival: Bohm beats Kijowski
We prove that the Bohmian arrival time of the 1D Schroedinger evolution
violates the quadratic form structure on which Kijowski's axiomatic treatment
of arrival times is based. Within Kijowski's framework, for a free right moving
wave packet, the various notions of arrival time (at a fixed point x on the
real line) all yield the same average arrival time. We derive an inequality
relating the average Bohmian arrival time to the one of Kijowksi. We prove that
the average Bohmian arrival time is less than Kijowski's one if and only if the
wave packet leads to position probability backflow through x. Otherwise the two
average arrival times coincide.Comment: 9 page
A new approach to quantum backflow
We derive some rigorous results concerning the backflow operator introduced
by Bracken and Melloy. We show that it is linear bounded, self adjoint, and not
compact. Thus the question is underlined whether the backflow constant is an
eigenvalue of the backflow operator. From the position representation of the
backflow operator we obtain a more efficient method to determine the backflow
constant. Finally, detailed position probability flow properties of a numerical
approximation to the (perhaps improper) wave function of maximal backflow are
displayed.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure
Diffraction in time of a confined particle and its Bohmian paths
Diffraction in time of a particle confined in a box which its walls are
removed suddenly at is studied. The solution of the time-dependent
Schr\"{o}dinger equation is discussed analytically and numerically for various
initial wavefunctions. In each case Bohmian trajectories of the particles are
computed and also the mean arrival time at a given location is studied as a
function of the initial state.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
Bohmian arrival time without trajectories
The computation of detection probabilities and arrival time distributions
within Bohmian mechanics in general needs the explicit knowledge of a relevant
sample of trajectories. Here it is shown how for one-dimensional systems and
rigid inertial detectors these quantities can be computed without calculating
any trajectories. An expression in terms of the wave function and its spatial
derivative, both restricted to the boundary of the detector's spacetime volume,
is derived for the general case, where the probability current at the
detector's boundary may vary its sign.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures; v2: reference added, extended introduction,
published versio
Implications of Lorentz covariance for the guidance equation in two-slit quantum interference
It is known that Lorentz covariance fixes uniquely the current and the
associated guidance law in the trajectory interpretation of quantum mechanics
for spin particles. In the non-relativistic domain this implies a guidance law
for the electron which differs by an additional spin-dependent term from that
originally proposed by de Broglie and Bohm. In this paper we explore some of
the implications of the modified guidance law. We bring out a property of
mutual dependence in the particle coordinates that arises in product states,
and show that the quantum potential has scalar and vector components which
implies the particle is subject to a Lorentz-like force. The conditions for the
classical limit and the limit of negligible spin are given, and the empirical
sufficiency of the model is demonstrated. We then present a series of
calculations of the trajectories based on two-dimensional Gaussian wave packets
which illustrate how the additional spin-dependent term plays a significant
role in structuring both the individual trajectories and the ensemble. The
single packet corresponds to quantum inertial motion. The distinct features
encountered when the wavefunction is a product or a superposition are explored,
and the trajectories that model the two-slit experiment are given. The latter
paths exhibit several new characteristics compared with the original de
Broglie-Bohm ones, such as crossing of the axis of symmetry.Comment: 27 pages including 6 pages of figure
Emergence of four dimensional quantum mechanics from a deterministic theory in 11 dimensions
We develop a deterministic theory which accounts for the coupling of a high dimensional continuum of environmental excitations (called gravonons) to massive particle in a very localized and very weak fashion. For the model presented Schrodinger's equation can be solved practically exactly in 11 spacetime dimensions and the result demonstrates that as a function of time an incoming matter wave incident on a screen extinguishes, except at a single interaction center on the detection screen. This transition is reminiscent of the wave - particle duality arising from the "collapse" (also called "process one") postulated in the Copenhagen-von Neumann interpretation. In our theory it is replaced by a sticking process of the particle from the vacuum to the surface of the detection screen. This situation was verified in experiments by using massive molecules. In our theory this "wave-particle transition" is connected to the different dimensionalities of the space for particle motion and the gravonon dynamics, the latter propagating in the hidden dimensions of 11 dimensional spacetime. The fact that the particle is detected at apparently statistically determined points on the screen is traced back to the weakness and locality of the interaction with the gravonons which allows coupling on the energy shell alone. Although the theory exhibits a completely deterministic "chooser" mechanism for single site sticking, an apparent statistical character results, as it is found in the experiments, due to small heterogeneities in the atomic and gravonon structures
Electrochemical Pressure Impedance Spectroscopy (EPIS): A Promising Diagnostic Tool for Metal-air Batteries and Fuel Cells
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a widely-used diagnostic technique to characterize electrochemical processes. It is based on the dynamic analysis of two electrical observables, that is, current and voltage. Electrochemical cells with gaseous reactants or products (e.g., fuel cells, metal/air cells, electrolyzers) offer an additional observable, that is, the gas pressure. The dynamic coupling of current and/or voltage with gas pressure gives rise to a number of additional impedance definitions, for which we have introduced the term electrochemical pressure impedance spectroscopy (EPIS) [1,2]. EPIS shows a particular sensitivity towards transport processes of gas-phase or dissolved species, in particular, diffusion coefficients and transport pathway lengths. It is as such complementary to standard EIS, which is mainly sensitive towards electrochemical processes. This sensitivity can be exploited for model parameterization and validation. A general analysis of EPIS is presented, which shows the necessity of model-based interpretation of the complex EPIS shapes in the Nyquist plot (cf. Figure). We then present EPIS simulations for two different electrochemical cells: (1) a sodium/oxygen battery cell and (2) a hydrogen/air fuel cell. We use 1D or 2D electrochemical and transport models to simulate current excitation/pressure detection or pressure excitation/voltage detection. The results are compared to first EPIS experimental data available in literature [2,3]
Model-based analysis of Electrochemical Pressure Impedance Spectroscopy (EPIS) for PEM Fuel Cells
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a widely-used diagnostic technique to characterize electrochemical processes. It is based on the dynamic analysis of two electrical observables, that is, current and voltage. Electrochemical cells with gaseous reactants or products, in particular fuel cells, offer an additional observable, that is, the gas pressure. The dynamic coupling of current or voltage with gas pressure gives rise to a number of additional impedance definitions, for which we have previously introduced the term electrochemical pressure impedance spectroscopy (EPIS) [1,2]. EPIS shows a particular sensitivity towards transport processes of gas-phase or dissolved species, in particular, diffusion coefficients and transport pathway lengths. It is as such complementary to standard EIS, which is mainly sensitive towards electrochemical processes. First EPIS experiments on PEM fuel cells have recently been shown [3].
We present a detailed modeling and simulation analysis of EPIS of a PEM fuel cell. We use a 1D+1D continuum model of a fuel/air channel pair with GDL and MEA. Backpressure is dynamically varied, and the resulting simulated oscillation in cell voltage is evaluated to yield the ▁Z_( V⁄p_ca ) EPIS signal. Results are obtained for different transport situations of the fuel cell, giving rise to very complex EPIS shapes in the Nyquist plot. This complexity shows the necessity of model-based interpretation of the complex EPIS shapes. Based on the simulation results, specific features in the EPIS spectra can be assigned to different transport domains (gas channel, GDL, membrane water transport)