Towards a realistic parsing of the Feynman path integral

TL;DR

This paper proposes an intermediate interpretation of the Feynman path integral, representing quantum phenomena through realistic, non-interfering spacetime-valued field histories, potentially offering a new understanding of quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel intermediate parsing of the path integral into non-interfering field histories, bridging the gap between the all-paths and single-path interpretations.

Findings

A realistic non-interfering interpretation is always possible.

Each field history can be considered as a spacetime-valued field.

The approach addresses key conceptual concerns and suggests a Lorentz covariant framework.

Abstract

The Feynman path integral does not allow a "one real path" interpretation, because amplitudes contribute to probabilities in a non-separable manner. The opposite extreme, "all paths happen", is not a useful or informative account. In this paper it is shown that an intermediate parsing of the path integral, into realistic non-interfering possibilities, is always available. Each realistic possibility formally corresponds to numerous particle paths, but is arguably best interpreted as a spacetime-valued field. Notably, one actual field history can always be said to occur, although it will generally not have an extremized action. The most obvious concerns with this approach are addressed, indicating necessary follow-up research. But without obvious showstoppers, it seems plausible that the path integral might be reinterpreted to explain quantum phenomena in terms of Lorentz covariant field histories.