Tunneling photons pose no challenge to Bohmian mechanics

TL;DR

The paper clarifies that recent photon tunneling experiments do not challenge Bohmian mechanics, as the measured velocities and theoretical predictions are fundamentally different and both interpretations agree on tunneling dynamics.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the apparent discrepancy in photon velocities does not challenge Bohmian mechanics by clarifying the physical meaning and showing both interpretations predict the same tunneling behavior.

Findings

Measured velocities are physically distinct from Bohmian velocities.

Both interpretations predict identical tunneling dynamics.

The experiment does not pose a challenge to Bohmian mechanics.

Abstract

Very recently, Sharoglazova et al. performed an experiment measuring the energy-velocity relationship and Bohmian velocity in coupled waveguides. Their data show a discrepancy between the semi-classical `speed' $v=\sqrt{2|\Delta|/m}$ and Bohmian velocity $v_s$ for $\Delta<-\hbar J_0$, leading them to claim a challenge to Bohmian mechanics. Here, we definitively demonstrate this experiment poses no challenge to Bohmian mechanics. First, $v$ and $v_S$ represent fundamentally distinct physical quantities -- comparing them is physically unjustified and cannot adjudicate between Copenhagen and Bohmian interpretations. Second, we rigorously show that both interpretations predict identical photon tunneling dynamics in coupled waveguides.