Wave-like Behavior in the Source–Detector Resonance

Abstract

We consider a particular model of a Source of independent particles and a macroscopic Detector that are both tuned to the same resonance frequency ν0≡1/P. Particles are emitted by the Source at exact multiples of the resonance period P, and the Detector absorbs them with a certain probability at any one of its points. The Detector may also announce the detection of the absorbed particle. Any particle that is not absorbed at a certain point passes through to a deeper layer in the interior of the Detector. Eventually, all particles will be absorbed, i.e., detected. We calculate the probability of detection for two particle time series generated by the same Source reaching the Detector with a time delay of δt and show that it manifests the illusion of collective (wave-like) interference with particle number conservation. We conclude that wave phenomena may reflect the nature of detectors rather than fundamental laws of physics.

Keywords

• computer simulation
• wave mechanics interpretations