The Quantum as an Emergent System

Abstract

Double slit interference is explained with the aid of what we call "21stcentury classical physics". We model a particle as an oscillator ("bouncer") in a thermal context, which is given by some assumed "zero-point" field of the vacuum. In this way, the quantum is understood as an emergent system, i.e., a steady-state system maintained by a constant throughput of (vacuum) energy. To account for the particle's thermal environment, we introduce a "path excitation field", which derives from the thermodynamics of the zero-point vacuum and which represents all possible paths a particle can take via thermal path fluctuations. The intensity distribution on a screen behind a double slit is calculated, as well as the corresponding trajectories and the probability density current. Further, particular features of the relative phase are shown to be responsible for nonlocal effects not only in ordinary quantum theory, but also in our classical approach.

24 pages, 2 figures, based on a talk given at "Emergent Quantum Mechanics (Heinz von Foerster Conference 2011)", http://www.univie.ac.at/hvf11/congress/EmerQuM.html

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• The Entropic Dynamics approach to Quantum Mechanics
• Entropic Dynamics: an Inference Approach to Quantum Theory, Time and Measurement
• Trading drift and fluctuations in entropic dynamics: quantum dynamics as an emergent universality class
• Emergence of Quantum Mechanics from a Sub-Quantum Statistical Mechanics
• Towards a theory of quantum gravity from neural networks
• Classical Simulation of Double Slit Interference via Ballistic Diffusion
• "Systemic Nonlocality" from Changing Constraints on Sub-Quantum Kinematics
• Emergence from irreversibility
• Quantum features derived from the classical model of a bouncer-walker coupled to a zero-point field
• Emergent quantum mechanics as a classical, irreversible thermodynamics
• Modeling double slit interference via anomalous diffusion: independently variable slit widths
• A Classical Framework for Nonlocality and Entanglement