arXiv:quant-ph/0404134quant-ph
Are All Particles Real?
Early discovery. Linked by one identifiable commenter. This paper is outside the main ranking; a mention is not an endorsement.
Abstract
In Bohmian mechanics elementary particles exist objectively, as point particles moving according to a law determined by a wavefunction. In this context, questions as to whether the particles of a certain species are real--questions such as, Do photons exist? Electrons? Or just the quarks?--have a clear meaning. We explain that, whatever the answer, there is a corresponding Bohm-type theory, and no experiment can ever decide between these theories. Another question that has a clear meaning is whether particles are intrinsically distinguishable, i.e., whether particle world lines have labels indicating the species. We discuss the intriguing possibility that the answer is no, and particles are points--just points.
Particles can interfere with themselves in the double-slit experiment if they are being guided by a wave. This explains wave behavior and particulate events as in Bohm's theory. Sadly, there are issues with photons as particles as their wave equations do not seem to allow for an…
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