On the possibility of empirically probing the Bohmian model in terms of the testability of quantum arrival/transit time distribution

TL;DR

This paper explores whether empirical tests can distinguish the Bohmian model from standard quantum mechanics by analyzing transit time distributions of spin-1/2 particles passing through a magnetic region.

Contribution

It proposes a method to compare Bohmian predictions with quantum approaches using transit time measurements in a spin rotator setup.

Findings

Bohmian and quantum predictions differ in specific transit time scenarios

The study identifies critical subtleties in Bohmian calculations

Experimental schemes are suggested for empirical scrutiny

Abstract

The present article focuses on studying the extent to which the nonuniqueness that is inherent in the standard quantum mechanical calculation of arrival/transit time distribution can be exploited to enable an empirical scrutiny of any causal trajectory model such as the Bohmian scheme. For this purpose, we consider the example of spin-1/2 neutral particles corresponding to a wave packet which passes through a spin rotator(SR) that contains constant magnetic field confined within a region - in such a case, the transit time distribution can be measured in terms of the spin distribution of particles emerging from the SR. In particular, we investigate the way one can compare the Bohmian predictions obtained for this example with that using one of the quantum approaches, say, the probability current density based scheme. Here the Bohmian calculational procedure involves a couple of critical subtleties that lead to some specific directions for further studies.