Exploring the transition between Quantum and Classical Mechanics

E. Aldo Arroyo

Published 2024-05-28Version 1

We investigate the transition from quantum to classical mechanics using a one-dimensional free particle model. In the classical analysis, we consider the initial positions and velocities of the particle drawn from Gaussian distributions. Since the final position of the particle depends on these initial conditions, convolving the Gaussian distributions associated with these initial conditions gives us the distribution of the final positions. In the quantum scenario, using an initial Gaussian wave packet, the temporal evolution provides the final wave function, and from it, the quantum probability density. We find that the quantum probability density coincides with the classical normal distribution of the particle's final position obtained from the convolution theorem. However, for superpositions of Gaussian distributions, the classical and quantum results deviate due to quantum interference. To address this issue, we propose a novel approach to recover the classical distribution from the quantum one. This approach involves removing the quantum interference effects through truncated Fourier analysis. These results are consistent with modern quantum decoherence theory. This comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of the classical-quantum correspondence and the mechanisms underlying the emergence of classicality from quantum systems.