couder

It is usually assumed that the quantum wave-particle duality can have no counterpart in classical physics. Is this entirely true? We came across this question when we found that a droplet bouncing on a vibrated bath can couple to the surface wave it excites and become propagative. Through several experiments on this classical system we address a general question. How can a continuous and spatially extended wave have a common dynamics with a localized and discrete droplet? Surprisingly some quantum-like behaviors emerge; a form of uncertainty and a form of quantization are observed. I will show that both properties are related to the "path memory" contained in the wave field. The relation of this experiment with the pilot wave models proposed by de Broglie and by Bohm for quantum mechanics will be discussed.

THIS COLLOQUIUM IS JOINTLY SPONSORED BY FIELDS INSTITUTE RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS.