Waves, Particles, and Quantized Transitions: A New Realistic Model of the Microworld

A novel two-tiered organization of the microworld is presented, in which only the fundamental quantum fields of the standard model of particle physics (electrons, photons, quarks, etc.) are true quantum waves, exhibiting linear superposition. In contrast, confined quantum waves and their composites (such as nucleons and atoms) move collectively as particles following a classical Hamiltonian trajectory, as derived from the coherent phases of the component quantum waves. However, transitions between such quasi-classical trajectories are still subject to quantum transition rules of energy and momentum quantization (both linear and angular). Furthermore, there is no quantum decoherence, and no entanglement of multi-particle states. This provides a clear foundation for classical behavior, and avoids paradoxes of quantum measurement such as Schrödinger cat states. A synthesis of this type does not seem to have been previously examined. Can such a simple realistic representation really account for the known physics? This does require major reinterpretations of some established phenomena such as crystal diffraction, phonons, and superfluids.