Single-particle diffraction with a hydrodynamic pilot-wave model

TL;DR

This paper explores how a hydrodynamic pilot-wave model can reproduce quantum-like single-particle diffraction patterns, showing classical systems can mimic quantum phenomena through wave-particle interactions.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a hydrodynamic system can produce diffraction patterns similar to quantum mechanics, providing a classical explanation for wave-like behavior.

Findings

Single-particle diffraction patterns observed in the model.

Comparison with quantum mechanical predictions shows similarities.

A mechanism explaining the diffractive behavior in the hydrodynamic system.

Abstract

A macroscopic hydrodynamic system that couples a particle and a wave has recently renewed interest in the question as to what extent a classical system may reproduce quantum phenomena. Here we investigate single-particle diffraction with a pilot-wave model originally developed to describe the hydrodynamic system. We study single-particle interactions with a barrier and slits of increasing width by focusing on the near field. We find single-particle diffraction arising as wavelike patterns in the particles' position statistics, which we compare to the predictions of quantum mechanics. We provide a mechanism that rationalizes the diffractive behavior in our system.