Atom-Diffraction from Surfaces with Defects: A Fermatian, Newtonian and Bohmian Joint View

Area of Science:

• Quantum mechanics
• Quantum foundations
• Atomic physics

Background:

• Bohmian mechanics is valuable for computational and interpretive quantum problems.
• Understanding quantum-classical correspondence is a key challenge in physics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively analyze Bohmian mechanics at different approximation levels for helium atom diffraction.
• To investigate the survival of quantum aspects in refined approximations.
• To gain insight into quantum-classical correspondence.

Main Methods:

• Quantum treatment of helium atom diffraction from a defected substrate.
• Utilizing approximated hard-wall and realistic interaction potential models.
• Employing Fermatian, Newtonian, and Bohmian trajectories for analysis.

Main Results:

• Diffraction intensity patterns were analyzed using quantum mechanics and trajectory-based methods.
• Fermatian and Newtonian trajectories showed similarities.
• Bohmian trajectories exhibited distinct, non-classical behavior.

Conclusions:

• Bohmian mechanics provides a unique perspective on quantum phenomena.
• The study highlights differences between classical and Bohmian trajectory interpretations.
• This work contributes to understanding quantum-classical correspondence in atomic diffraction.