The Wave Function and Quantum Reality

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new interpretation of the wave function as describing the random discontinuous motion of particles, challenging some existing interpretations and supporting collapse theories.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interpretation of the wave function based on effective mass and charge density from ergodic, discontinuous particle motion, contrasting with traditional views.

Findings

Mass and charge density are effective, not real.

Wave function describes random discontinuous particle motion.

Supports dynamical collapse theories over de Broglie-Bohm and many-worlds.

Abstract

We investigate the meaning of the wave function by analyzing the mass and charge density distribution of a quantum system. According to protective measurement, a charged quantum system has mass and charge density proportional to the modulus square of its wave function. It is shown that the mass and charge density is not real but effective, and it is formed by the ergodic motion of a localized particle with the total mass and charge of the system. Moreover, it is argued that the ergodic motion is not continuous but discontinuous and random. This result suggests a new interpretation of the wave function, according to which the wave function is a description of random discontinuous motion of particles, and the modulus square of the wave function gives the probability density of the particles being in certain locations. It is shown that the suggested interpretation of the wave function disfavors the de Broglie-Bohm theory and the many-worlds interpretation but favors the dynamical collapse theories, and the random discontinuous motion of particles may provide an appropriate random source to collapse the wave function.