Stochastic Mechanics as a Possible Foundation for Quantum Mechanics

Stochastic mechanics aims to provide a measurement-problem-free foundation for quantum mechanics in terms of a more fundamental theory involving classical particles interacting with a classical-like ether, where the interaction causes the particles to undergo a diffusion process on configuration space that conserves their average energy. From 1966 and onwards, it was argued by Edward Nelson and others that stochastic mechanics succeeds in this aim. However, Wallstrom showed in 1989 that stochastic mechanics runs into the technical problem that it cannot recover the Schroedinger equation unless an ad hoc quantization condition is imposed on the “current velocity” of the diffusing particles. Wallstrom’s criticism was one of the key causes of diminished research interest in stochastic mechanics from the '90's onward. Recently, however, I have shown [1] that it is possible to reformulate stochastic mechanics so that the aforementioned quantization condition arises as a natural consequence of classical zitterbewegung particles interacting with the posited classical-like ether. In this talk, I will sketch the basic idea of stochastic mechanics, Wallstrom’s criticism thereof, and the basic idea behind my proposed reformulation.
[1] https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/355284