Mapping of the classical kinetic balance equations onto the Schrödinger equation

Abstract

Here we find a mapping onto the Sturm–Liouville operator of the first two balance equations derived from Boltzmann's equation. This mapping, which is irreversible and valid only for a subclass of solutions, is achieved by applying a Fourier transform to the momentum coordinate. In light of this irreversibility, it is necessary to develop a set of consistent prescriptions to find the probability of any physical quantity in the p-conjugate space such that it will coincide with the average over the momentum of the true probabilities obtained from the original Boltzmann equation. The one drawback of this prescription is that it is impossible to predict exactly the precise values of the position x and the momentum p at the same time. This uncertainty is limited by the relationship that all conjugate variables in a Fourier transform should obey, namely Δ x Δ p = η/2, where η is a free parameter of the theory. The prescriptions we have found appear to coincide with the postulates of quantum mechanics, when η is set equal to ℏ. This procedure seems to provide a statistical representation of quantum mechanics.