Double-slit and electromagnetic models to complete quantum mechanics

TL;DR

This paper presents a microscopic electromagnetic model based on Wheeler-Feynman electrodynamics to explain quantum interference phenomena, offering qualitative agreement with experiments and proposing a classical framework to potentially complete quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed point-charge electrodynamics model using neutral differential delay equations, bridging classical electromagnetism with quantum interference phenomena.

Findings

Qualitative agreement with double-slit interference experiments

De Broglie wavelength predicted as inverse of incoming velocity

Simplified model explains scattering in crystals with local interactions

Abstract

We analyze a realistic microscopic model for electronic scattering with the neutral differential delay equations of motion of point charges of the Wheeler-Feynman electrodynamics. We propose a microscopic model according to the electrodynamics of point charges, complex enough to describe the essential physics. Our microscopic model reaches a simple qualitative agreement with the experimental results as regards interference in double-slit scattering and in electronic scattering by crystals. We discuss our model in the light of existing experimental results, including a qualitative disagreement found for the double-slit experiment. We discuss an approximation for the complex neutral differential delay equations of our model using piecewise-defined (discontinuous) velocities for all charges and piecewise-constant-velocities for the scattered charge. Our approximation predicts the De Broglie wavelength as an inverse function of the incoming velocity and in the correct order of magnitude. We explain the scattering by crystals in the light of the same simplified modeling with Einstein-local interactions. We include a discussion of the qualitative properties of the neutral-delay-equations of electrodynamics to stimulate future experimental tests on the possibility to complete quantum mechanics with electromagnetic models.