Generalized quantum potentials

We first recall that the system of fluid mechanics equations (Euler and continuity) that describes a fluid in irrotational motion subjected to a generalized quantum potential (depending on a constant which may be different from the standard quantum constant h̄) is equivalent to a generalized Schrödinger equation for a ‘wavefunction’ whose modulus squared yields the fluid density. Then we show that even in the case of the presence of vorticity, it is also possible to obtain a nonlinear Schrödinger-like equation (now of the vectorial field type) from the continuity and Euler equations including a quantum potential. The same kind of transformation also applies to a classical charged fluid subjected to an electromagnetic field and to an additional potential having the form of a quantum potential. Such a fluid can therefore be described by an equation of the Ginzburg–Landau type, and is expected to show some superconducting-like properties. Moreover, a Schrödinger form can be obtained for a fluctuating rotational motion of a solid. In this case the mass is replaced by the tensor of inertia, and a generalized form of the quantum potential is derived. We finally reconsider the case of a standard diffusion process, and we show that, after a change of variable, the diffusion equation can also be given the form of a continuity and Euler system including an additional potential energy. Since this potential is exactly the opposite of a quantum potential, the quantum behavior may be considered, in this context, as an anti-diffusion. PACS numbers: 2.50.Ey, 03.65.−w, 05.45.Df, 47.37.+q