Fractal Nature

Down in the fractal depths of quantum matter and space-timeMedium

Perhaps quantum particles are really suspended in some kind of sub-quantum “fluid” and relentlessly bombarded and kicked around by the sub-quantum “particles” of this fluid. This is similar to Einstein’s explanation of Brownian motion, which is what eventually persuaded physicists of the reality of atoms and molecules. Similarly, reality could be deeper than current physical models.

The plausibility of these ideas is confirmed by recent findings showing that quantum-like behavior can be reproduced in classical fluids and explained by classical (non-quantum) fluid dynamics. In fact, fluid droplets bouncing on a vibrating fluid bath move with a striking similarity to quantum behavior.

To explore the fascinating quantum-like behavior of fluid droplets, watch this video and see two review articles by John Bush, a professor of applied mathematics at MIT: “The New Wave of Pilot-Wave Theory” and “Pilot-Wave Hydrodynamics.” The idea that comes immediately to mind is that quantum particles could be driven by sub-quantum micro-physics.

Stochastic mechanics is non-local (it needs instantaneous correlations between remote particles), which troubled Nelson himself. But since standard quantum mechanics is non-local, any theory that reproduces the results of standard quantum mechanics must be non-local. In a 2012 review paper, Nelson noted that stochastic mechanics could be “an approximation to a correct theory of quantum mechanics as emergent.”