Classical analog of quantum phase (Q1200402)

A specific case of a free particle in one dimension is investigated via a modification of the Feynman chessboard model where the involved paths are spirals in space-time. Portions of the paths with reversed proper time are interpreted as antiparticles. The particle-antiparticle field provides a classical analogue of the phase. In the nonrelativistic limit the resulting kernel is the correct Dirac propagator. Particle- antiparticle symmetry is responsible for quantum interference.