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dc.contributor.authorTimko, Jeff
dc.date.accessioned2008-01-17 16:10:51 (GMT)
dc.date.available2008-01-17 16:10:51 (GMT)
dc.date.issued2008-01-17T16:10:51Z
dc.date.submitted2007
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10012/3491
dc.description.abstractWe introduce the de Broglie-Bohm causal interpreation of quantum mechanics and compare it to the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics, the Copenhagen interpretation. We examine the possibility of experimentally distinguishing between the two theories, as well as the potential for the causal interpretation to more easily bridge the gap between the physics of the quantum and classical worlds. We then use the causal interpretation to construct a deterministic model of the helium atom in which the two electrons move along trajectories through space and time about a stationary nucleus. The dynamics are governed by the non-relativistic Schrödinger equation and the spin vectors of both electrons are assumed to be constant along their respective trajectories. We examine the Bohmian trajectories associated with (approximations to) eigenstates of the helium Hamiltonian as well as the trajectories associated with some non-eigenstates. We also compute an approximation to the ground state energy of the helium atom using a representation of the helium wavefunction in terms of hydrogenic eigenfunctions which is motivated by a perturbation approach.en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity of Waterlooen
dc.subjectquantum mechanicsen
dc.subjectBohmian mechanicsen
dc.subjectheliumen
dc.subjectcausal interpretationen
dc.titleBohmian Trajectories of the Two-Electron Helium Atomen
dc.typeMaster Thesisen
dc.pendingfalseen
dc.subject.programApplied Mathematicsen
uws-etd.degree.departmentApplied Mathematicsen
uws-etd.degreeMaster of Mathematicsen
uws.typeOfResourceTexten
uws.peerReviewStatusUnrevieweden
uws.scholarLevelGraduateen


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