Published December 13, 2018 | Version one

Statistical Similarities Between Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics in the Case of an Oscillator

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Both quantum mechanics and classical statistical mechanics predict the same momentum and spatial density forms forms for the solution of an oscillator. In the case of quantum mechanics, the ground state is considered. One may ask whether this is a coincidence, and if not, why two seemingly different theories should lead to the same result for the oscillator case. We argue in this note that it is the form of the conservation equation of the oscillator which leads to x and p having the same probability distribution.Furthermore, given that both quantum mechanics and classical statistical mechanics are of a statistical nature, one may inquire into the actual nature of the statistics being used, the meaning behind averages being used. For example, the classical deterministic solution of an oscillator can be written in statistical terms by removing time dependence and using density = dx/v. This does not mean, however, that the actual physical motion is no longer deterministic. In addition, we try to argue that quantum mechanics may be a more detailed statistical model including dynamics which satisfies the more static statistical result of spatial density for classical statistical mechanics.

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