WAVE-MECHANICS-AND-GENERAL-RELATIVITY：A-RAPPROCHEMENT.pdfVIP

WAVE MECHANICS AND GENERAL RELATIVITY: A RAPPROCHEMENT Paul S. Wesson Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada May 18, 2006 Abstract: Using exact solutions, we show that it is in principle possible to regard waves and particles as representations of the same underlying geometry, thereby resolving the problem of wave-particle duality. Scheduled to appear in Vol. 38, May 2006, of J. Gen. Rel. and Grav. Correspondence: Mail to address above, fax=(519)746-8115 1 1 Introduction Wave-particle duality is commonly presented as a conceptual conflict between quantum and classical mechanics. The archetypal example is the double- slit experiment, where electrons as discrete particles pass through a pair of apertures and show wave-like interference patterns. However, particles and waves can both be given geometrical descriptions, which raises the possibility that these behaviours are merely different representations of the same under- lying geometry. We will give a brief discussion involving exact solutions of extended geometry, to show that particles and waves may be the same thing viewed in different ways. Certain technical results will be needed below. (Those readers more interested in results than method may like to proceed to section 2.) The basic idea is that waves and particles are different coordinate representations of the same geometry, or isometries [1-5]. Even in special relativity, which frequently uses as a basis four-dimensional Minkowski space (M ) , we can 4 if we so wish change the form of the metric by a change of coordinates (or gauge).