Ehrenfest’s Theorem Revisited Cover Image

Ehrenfest’s Theorem Revisited
Ehrenfest’s Theorem Revisited

Author(s): Henryk Arodź
Subject(s): Logic, Special Branches of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science
Published by: Copernicus Center Press
Keywords: Ehrenfest’s theorem; wave packets; quantum vs. classical world

Summary/Abstract: Historically, Ehrenfest’s theorem (1927) is the first one which shows that classical physics can emerge from quantum physics as a kind of approximation. We recall the theorem in its original form, and we highlight its generalizations to the relativistic Dirac particle and to a particle with spin and izospin. We argue that apparent classicality of the macroscopic world can probably be explained within the framework of standard quantum mechanics.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 66
  • Page Range: 73-94
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: English