Published October 7, 2020 | Version 1

Conditional Probability and Time in Quantum Bound States

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We argue that in a quantum bound state with one particle, the particle receives stochastic hits from a potential. As a result, if one examines a point x, the particle may be present at ti with momentum pi (in both the forward and backward directions) leading to a momentum distribution with a conditional probability P(p/x) = a(p) exp(ipx)/W(x) where W(x) is the wavefunction. Thus, one does not follow a stochastic particle in time, but rather describes it by a probability distribution at each x. One may next ask whether this conditional probability at x changes in time? This is not the actual time related to stochastic motion of the particle. To answer this question, we argue one must consider interactions which occur at x which are part of an energy equation. Even in classical physics, the energy equation at x indicates how a particle’s motion changes. Thus, we argue one does not simply take measurements at x  of ti and pi, but that at each ti, a particle with pi is undergoing dynamic changes and these may be considered as well. If one describes the quantum picture by W(x) i.e. a momentum distribution, one may find a collective interaction given by -1/2m d/dx d/dx W + VW. 

 The coupling between V(x)=Sum over k V(x)exp(ikx) and the particle conditional probabilities in W is apparent in the VW term. This energy term should describe whether the momentum distribution changes in time i.e should be proportional to dW/dt (partial derivative), but should also equal the average energy. Thus, a link exists between ensemble energy and time. In this note, we argue that these ideas may be applied to P(p/x) in a bound state resonance because the same E applies to each p. 

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