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Stochastic mechanics and quantum theory

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Abstract

Stochastic mechanics may be regarded as both generalizing classical mechanics to processes with intrinsic randomness, as well as providing the sort of detailed description of microscopic events declared impossible under the traditional interpretation of quantum mechanics. It avoids the many conceptual difficulties which arise from the assumption that quantum mechanics, i.e., the wave function, provides a complete description of (microscopic) physical reality. Stochastic mechanics presents a unified treatment of the microscopic and macroscopic domains, in which the process of measurement plays no special physical role and which reduces to Newtonian mechanics in the macroscopic limit.

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Goldstein, S. Stochastic mechanics and quantum theory. J Stat Phys 47, 645–667 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01206150

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01206150

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