Topological Factors Derived From Bohmian Mechanics

Duerr, Detlef; Goldstein, Sheldon; Taylor, James; Tumulka, Roderich; Zanghi, Nino

Topological Factors Derived From Bohmian Mechanics

Authors

Description

We derive for Bohmian mechanics topological factors for quantum systems with a multiply-connected configuration space Q. These include nonabelian factors corresponding to what we call holonomy-twisted representations of the fundamental group of Q. We employ wave functions on the universal covering space of Q. As a byproduct of our analysis, we obtain an explanation, within the framework of Bohmian mechanics, of the fact that the wave function of a system of identical particles is either symmetric or anti-symmetric.
17 pages, no figures