Phase Space Formulation of Filtering. Insight into the Wave- Particle Duality

A phase space formulation of the filtering process upon an incident quantum state is developed. This formulation can explain the results of both quantum interference and delayed-choice experiments without making use of the controversial wave-particle duality. Quantum particles are seen as localized and indivisible concentrations of energy and/or mass, their probability amplitude in phase space being described by the Wigner distribution function. The “wave” or “particle” nature appears in experiments in which the interference term of the Wigner distribution function is present or absent, respectively, the filtering devices that modify the quantum wavefunction throughout the set-up, from its generation to its final detection, being responsible for the modification of the Wigner distribution function. * Correspondence address: Prof. D. Dragoman, P.O. Box 1-480, 70700 Bucharest, Romania, email: [email protected]