Linked Questions
42 questions linked to/from About the complex nature of the wave function?
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What do imaginary numbers practically represent in the Schrödinger equation? [duplicate]
I know that the $i$ that appears in the Schrödinger equation, which is the imaginary unit, is used to solve problems that arise with roots of negative numbers. But what is the meaning of that negative ...
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Why is the wave function complex? [duplicate]
Why should an equation (TDSE) in which first time derivative is related to second space derivative have a solution that contains $i$?The wave function is supposed to be complex, but I am unable to ...
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Why is $i$ used in the equations for quantum mechanics? [duplicate]
Coming from someone who knows a tiny bit about the subject but who really wants to learn. I know it's the square root of -1 but I would like some insight as to why it's used at all.
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Why is it necessary to use the imaginary number in QM? [duplicate]
My professor argues that one of the fundamentally unique properties of Quantum Mechanics is that the imaginary unit i is not removable (you can't avoid using it, unlike in other areas of physics like ...
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What is Wave Function? [duplicate]
Well, what is the meaning of wave function? What does it represent? In Schrodinger's equation, we find the value of Ψ. But what is Ψ exactly? Max Born only gave an explanation of what $Ψ^2$ (the ...
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Is there a way to explain quantum mechanics without invoking complex numbers? [duplicate]
"Every possible history starting from a particular state and ending at a particular state is assigned a complex number by some predefined rules in particular that the complex number is the product of ...
user84158
2
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Could the phase factor $i$ be replaced by "matrix representation" totally in quantum mechanics? [duplicate]
It seems that $i$ plays an important role in quantum mechanics (Q.M.).
On the other hand, linear algebra plays such an important role in Q.M. too.
So would linear algebra, such as a matrix be able to ...
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Why is a quantum state described by a complex vector in the Hilbert space? [duplicate]
In classical theory (e.g., classical mechanics and electromagnetic theory), we introduce the complex values for the mathematical convenience, e.g., A=(a+a*)/2. There, the use of complex values (or ...
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Why is psi square a possibility? [duplicate]
Is psi square just an assumption? Or there is a physical reason why they defined like that? My procedure is:
It is intuitive for me to think possibility is proportional to energy distribution. ...
김건형
1
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0
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Imaginary part of the waveefunction in quantum mechanics [duplicate]
I wonder what is the reason for wave function in quantum mechanics to have an imaginary part...
How do we interpret the utility of the imaginary part?!
As we know the wave function it self does not ...
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Imaginary numbers in quantum mechanics [duplicate]
Do imaginary numbers in quantum mechanics do anything different than, say, a regular 3D coordinate system? Why do they show up in e.g the Schrödinger Equation? Is it because "i" can model ...
126
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QM without complex numbers
I am trying to understand how complex numbers made their way into QM. Can we have a theory of the same physics without complex numbers? If so, is the theory using complex numbers easier?
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33
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Can someone provide a physical -- not mathematical -- intuition for the phase in a quantum wavefunction?
I've read every thread on StackExchange (and Quora and reddit...) that I can find about a physical intuition for the phase in the quantum wave function, and I still Just. Don't. Get. It. (Yes, I've ...
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Why are Only Real Things Measurable?
Why can't we measure imaginary numbers? I mean, we can take the projection of a complex wave to be the "viewable" part, so why are imaginary numbers given this immeasurable descriptor? Namely with ...
user24082
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Can one do the maths of physics without using $\sqrt{-1}$?
The use of imaginary and complex values comes up in many physics and engineering derivations. I have a question about that: Is the use of complex numbers simply to make the process of derivation ...
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