Diffraction and interference with run-and-tumble particles

Christian Maes, Kasper Meerts and Ward Struyve

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2022, vol. 598, issue C

Abstract: Run-and-tumble particles, frequently considered today for modeling bacterial locomotion, naturally appear outside a biological context as well. Here, we consider them in a quantum mechanical relation, using a wave function to drive their propulsion and tumbling. Such quantum-active motion realizes a jittery motion of Dirac electrons (as in the famous Zitterbewegung): the Dirac electron is a run-and-tumble particle, where the tumbling is between chiralities. We visualize the electron trajectories in single and double slit experiments and discuss their dependence on the spin-direction. In particular, that yields the time-of-arrival statistics of the electrons at the screen. Finally, we observe that away from pure quantum guidance, run-and-tumble particles with suitable spacetime-dependent parameters produce an interference pattern as well.

Keywords: Run-and-tumble; Dirac electron; Pilot-wave; Arrival times; Interference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:598:y:2022:i:c:s037843712200259x

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2022.127323

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