Why is quantum physics based on complex numbers?

DOI10.1016/J.FFA.2005.07.006MaRDI QIDQ2500602zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Felix M. Lev

Publication date 17 August 2006

Published in Finite Fields and their Applications (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0309003

zbMATH Keywords

finite fieldsmodular representationsquantum theory

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Representations of Lie algebras and Lie superalgebras, algebraic theory (weights) (17B10) Modular representations and characters (20C20) General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Finite-dimensional groups and algebras motivated by physics and their representations (81R05)

Abstract: The modern quantum theory is based on the assumption that quantum states are represented by elements of a complex Hilbert space. It is expected that in future quantum theory the number field will be not postulated but derived from more general principles. We consider the choice of the number field in quantum theory based on a Galois field (GFQT) discussed in our previous publications. Since any Galois field is not algebraically closed, in the general case there is no guarantee that even a Hermitian operator necessarily has eigenvalues. We assume that the symmetry algebra is the Galois field analog of the de Sitter algebra so(1,4) and consider spinless irreducible representations of this algebra. It is shown that the Galois field analog of complex numbers is the minimal extension of the residue field modulo $p$ for which the representations are fully decomposable.

Review text

Quantum states are defined in complex Hilbert spaces, and it has been shown by the author that a quantum theory based on a Galois field \(GF(p^2)\) is a natural generalization of classical quantum theory based on complex numbers. This being the case, one makes the assumption that any admissible linear operator representing a physical quantity should have a spectral decomposition. The paper proves that if the prime number \(p\) is equal to \(3 (\pmod 4)\), then the minimal extension of the finite field \(GF(p)\) containing \(p\) elements, for which there exists 10 linearly independent admissible representation operators, is the field \(GF(p^2)\) containing \(p^2\) elements. One discusses about hermiticity conditions when the irreductible representation is supplied by a scalar product. The spectrum of the \(M{04}\) operatori is carefully investigated

Recommendations

• Quantum mechanics: why complex Hilbert space?
• Glafka 2004: some remarks on the role of complex numbers in quantum theory
• Interference of probabilities and number field structure of quantum models
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 221049
• Reference Frame Fields based on Quantum Theory Representations of Real and Complex Numbers

Cites work

• Could only fermions be elementary?
• Finiteness of physics and its possible consequences
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4081635 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1215404 (Why is no real title available?)
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3081880 (Why is no real title available?)
• Massless elementary particles in a quantum theory over a Galois field
• Modular representations as a possible basis of finite physics
• Pseudo-Hermiticity and generalized PT- and CPT-symmetries
• SU(2)×SU(2) shift operators and representations of SO(5)
• The Representations of Lie Algebras of Prime Characteristic

Cited in

(2)

• Quantification of resource theory of imaginarity
• Completeness of -categories and the complex numbers

This page was built for publication: Why is quantum physics based on complex numbers?

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2500602)