Title: Bohm's approach to quantum mechanics: Alternative theory or practical picture?,
Abstract: Since its inception Bohmian mechanics has been generally regarded as a
hidden-variable theory aimed at providing an objective description of quantum
phenomena. To date, this rather narrow conception of Bohm's proposal has caused
it more rejection than acceptance. Now, after 65 years of Bohmian mechanics,
should still be such an interpretational aspect the prevailing appraisal? Why
not favoring a more pragmatic view, as a legitimate picture of quantum
mechanics, on equal footing in all respects with any other more conventional
quantum picture? These questions are used here to introduce a discussion on an
alternative way to deal with Bohmian mechanics at present, enhancing its aspect
as an efficient and useful picture or formulation to tackle, explore, describe
and explain quantum phenomena where phase and correlation (entanglement) are
key elements. This discussion is presented through two complementary blocks.
The first block is aimed at briefly revisiting the historical context that gave
rise to the appearance of Bohmian mechanics, and how this approach or analogous
ones have been used in different physical contexts. This discussion is used to
emphasize a more pragmatic view to the detriment of the more conventional
hidden-variable (ontological) approach that has been a leitmotif within the
quantum foundations. The second block focuses on some particular formal aspects
of Bohmian mechanics supporting the view presented here, with special emphasis
on the physical meaning of the local phase field and the associated velocity
field encoded within the wave function. As an illustration, a simple model of
Young's two-slit experiment is considered. The simplicity of this model allows
to understand in an easy manner how the information conveyed by the Bohmian
formulation relates to other more conventional concepts in quantum mechanics.
This sort of pedagogical application is also aimed at ...