"Velocities" in Quantum Mechanics

Abstract

The present paper deals with some kind of quantum ``velocity'' which is introduced by the method of hydrodynamical analogy. It is found that this ``velocity'' is in general irrotational, namely, a vorticity vanishes, and then a velocity potential must exist in quantum mechanics. In some elementary examples of stable systems we will see what the ``velocities'' are. In particular, the two-dimensional flows of these examples can be expressed by complex velocity potentials whose real and imaginary parts are the velocity potentials and stream functions, respectively.