Rydberg wavepackets in terms of hidden-variables: de Broglie-Bohm trajectories

The dynamics of highly excited radial Rydberg wavepackets is analyzed in terms of de Broglie-Bohm (BB) trajectories. Although the wavepacket evolves along classical motion, the computed BB trajectories are markedly different from the classical dynamics: in particular none of the trajectories initially near the atomic core reach the outer turning point where the wavepacket localizes periodically. The reasons for this behavior, that we suggest to be generic for trajectory-based hidden variable theories, are discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.