Inertial Trajectories in de Broglie-Bohm

Theory: and unexpected problem

International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 30: 201-230

Pablo Acuña
Instituto de Filosofía, PUCV
Center for Philosophy of Science, UPitt
pablo.acuna.l@pucv.cl
 Contents

• Motivation

• Interpretive framework for dBBT

• Inertial trajectories

• Conclusions
• Motivation

• Interpretive framework for dBBT

• Inertial trajectories

• Conclusions
• Particle trajectory is a well-defined notion
in dBBT, Ψ, 𝑄𝑄

• We may expect inertial trajectory also well-

defined.

• Is it?
• Motivation

• Interpretive framework for dBBT

• Inertial trajectories

• Conclusions
• With Ψ = 𝑅𝑅𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖⁄ℏ , dBBT is given by:

P1. System description: Ψ, 𝑄𝑄

𝜕𝜕
P2. Ψ evolution: 𝑖𝑖ℏ Ψ = 𝐻𝐻Ψ
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 ℏ 𝜵𝜵𝜵𝜵 𝜵𝜵𝜵𝜵

P3. 𝑸𝑸 evolution: = 𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐈 =
𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 𝒎𝒎 𝜳𝜳 𝒎𝒎

P4. Particles distribution: 𝑅𝑅 2 = Ψ 2

• Or by:

P1. System description: Ψ, 𝑄𝑄

𝜕𝜕
P2. Ψ evolution: 𝑖𝑖ℏ Ψ = 𝐻𝐻Ψ
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

𝒅𝒅𝐩𝐩
P3’. 𝑸𝑸 evolution: = −𝛁𝛁 𝑽𝑽 + 𝑼𝑼
𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅

P4. Particles distribution: 𝑃𝑃 = 𝑅𝑅 2 = Ψ 2

• Semantics of Ψ

– Field

– Law

– Disposition
• Interpretive framework

dBBT Ψ-field Ψ-law Ψ-disposition

Second-order

First-order
• Motivation

• Interpretive framework for dBBT

• Inertial trajectories

• Conclusions
• Interpretive framework

dBBT 𝜳𝜳-field Ψ-law Ψ-disposition

Bohm
Second-order
Norsen

First-order
• Quasi-Newtonian

– Quantum potential 𝑈𝑈

– The pilot-wave Ψ exerts a force −𝛻𝛻𝛻𝛻 on the

particles

𝒅𝒅𝐩𝐩
– Inertial motion iff = −𝜵𝜵 𝑽𝑽 + 𝑼𝑼 = 𝟎𝟎
𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅
• Problems:

– Foundations of quantum force −𝛻𝛻𝛻𝛻

– ‘Communication’: Ψ evolves in 3n-

dimensional configuration space

– ‘Action-reaction’: Ψ determines the evolution

of 𝑄𝑄, but 𝑄𝑄 does not affect back Ψ
• Norsen’s TELB:

– Pilot-waves 𝜓𝜓 (conditional w-f, one for each

particle) in 3-space evolve according to a
Schrödinger-like equation

– Infinite number of time-evolving

entanglement fields in 3-space
• TELB second-order:

𝑑𝑑𝐩𝐩
– Equation of motion = −𝛻𝛻 𝑉𝑉 + 𝑈𝑈 𝜓𝜓
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

– Solves problem of communication: 𝜓𝜓,

entanglement fields, −𝛻𝛻𝛻𝛻 𝜓𝜓 in 3-space

– Dynamical incompleteness remains: Schrödinger-

like equation for 𝜓𝜓 is indifferent to the particle
position
• Interpretive framework

dBBT 𝚿𝚿-field Ψ-law Ψ-disposition

Second-order

First-order Valentini
• Valentini’s approach:

𝛻𝛻𝛻𝛻
– Equation of motion 𝐯𝐯 =
𝑚𝑚

– Pilot wave Ψ exerts Aristotelian force on the

particles, inducing a velocity

– Inertial motion iff 𝜵𝜵𝜵𝜵 = 𝟎𝟎, i.e., rest!

• Problem:

– Absolute rest, but in what frame?

– Galilean-invariant theory cannot define the

concept of absolute rest = inertial motion
• Interpretive framework
𝜳𝜳-
dBBT Ψ-field 𝚿𝚿-law
disposition

Second-order Suárez

First-order
• The nomological approach:

– Ψ does not represent a physical entity, but a

law

– Ψ is analoguous to the 𝐻𝐻 in classical

mechanics

– No problem of communication, no problem of

action-reaction
• Inertial motion

𝑑𝑑𝐩𝐩
– Equation of motion = −𝛻𝛻 𝑉𝑉 + 𝑈𝑈
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

– With Ψ a law, 𝑈𝑈 nomological as well

– Inertial motion iff −𝜵𝜵𝜵𝜵 = 𝟎𝟎, regardless of

the value of −𝜵𝜵𝜵𝜵
• Dispositional approach, second order

– Ψ neither an entity nor a law, it determines a

dispositional property

– Ψ, via 𝑈𝑈 in −𝛻𝛻 𝑉𝑉 + 𝑈𝑈 , determines a second-

order disposition of the particles to accelerate

– No problem of communication, no problem of

action/reaction
• Inertial motion

𝑑𝑑𝐩𝐩
– Equation of motion = −𝛻𝛻 𝑉𝑉 + 𝑈𝑈
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

– With 𝑈𝑈 a disposition, no quantum force

– Inertial motion iff −𝜵𝜵𝜵𝜵 = 𝟎𝟎, regardless of

the value of −𝜵𝜵𝜵𝜵
• Problem:

– If −𝛻𝛻𝑉𝑉 = 0 and −𝛻𝛻𝑈𝑈 ≠ 0, inertial trajectories

not uniform and rectilinear!

– Friction with geodesic-principle in spacetime

theories
• Interpretive framework
𝜳𝜳-
dBBT Ψ-field 𝚿𝚿-law
disposition

Second-order

First-order DGZ Esfeld

• Forceless theory

– If Ψ a law, no quantum forces (not even

Aristotelian)

ℏ 𝛻𝛻Ψ
– If equation of motion is 𝐯𝐯 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 , no forces
𝑚𝑚 Ψ
of any kind
• (No) Inertial motion:

– If force is not defined, inertial motion cannot

be defined either.

– Quantum trajectories are neither inertial nor

non-inertial
• Ψ as first-order disposition

ℏ 𝛻𝛻Ψ
– Ψ input in 𝐯𝐯 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 , disposition of
𝑚𝑚 Ψ
particles to adopt a velocity

– Forceless theory. Inertial motion cannot be

defined
• Problem

– The classical limit in dBBT is 𝑈𝑈 → 0

– Classical mechanics a second-order theory, 𝑈𝑈 a

second-order term

– Conceptual incommensurability between

dBBT and classical mechanics
• Motivation

• Interpretive framework for dBBT

• Inertial trajectories

• Conclusions
dBBT and
Ψ Physical Field Ψ Nomological Ψ Dispositional
IT
Inertial Motion: Inertial Motion: Inertial Motion:
−𝛻𝛻 𝑉𝑉 + 𝑈𝑈 = 0 −𝛻𝛻𝑉𝑉 = 0 −𝛻𝛻𝑉𝑉 = 0
Second-
order Communication
Geodesic principle Geodesic principle
Action-reaction

Inertial motion: Inertial motion: Inertial motion:

𝛻𝛻𝑆𝑆 = 0 undefined undefined
First-order
Privileged frame Incommensurability Incommensurability
• Suggestion: metaphysical baggage of
dispositionalism, Ψ determines a dispositional
property to move, inducing velocity if 𝑈𝑈 ≠ 0,
inducing acceleration in the limit 𝑈𝑈 → 0
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 Thank you!

In memoriam Chris Cornell (1964-2017)