A trajectory-based understanding of quantum interference

Abstract

Interference is one of the most fundamental features which characterizes\nquantum systems. Here we provide an exhaustive analysis of the interfere\ndynamics associated with wave-packet superpositions from both the standard\nquantum-mechanical perspective and the Bohmian one.\n From this analysis, clear and insightful pictures of the physics involved in\nthis kind of processes are obtained, which are of general validity (i.e.,\nregardless of the type of wave packets considered) in the understanding of more\ncomplex cases where interference is crucial (e.g., scattering problems, slit\ndiffraction, quantum control scenarios or, even, multipartite interactions). In\nparticular, we show how problems involving wave-packet interference can be\nmapped onto problems of wave packets scattered off potential barriers.\n