Quantum mechanics based on real numbers: A consistent description
arXiv:2503.17307 · doi:10.1103/4k13-sdjh
Abstract
Complex numbers play a crucial role in quantum mechanics. However, their necessity remains debated: whether they are fundamental or merely convenient. Recently, it was shown that any real-number quantum theory satisfying certain postulates can be falsified with multipartite experiments. In this Letter we show that a physically motivated postulate about composite quantum systems allows us to construct quantum mechanics based on real numbers that reproduces predictions for all multipartite quantum experiments. Thus, we argue that real-valued quantum mechanics cannot be falsified, and therefore the use of complex numbers is a matter of convenience.
23 pages, 6 figures
References in corpus (13)
- Quantum theory based on real numbers can be experimentally falsified
- -Adic Mathematical Physics: The First 30 Years
- Ruling out real-valued standard formalism of quantum theory
- Simulating quantum systems using real Hilbert spaces
- Real-Vector-Space Quantum Theory with a Universal Quantum Bit
- Entanglement Sharing in Real-Vector-Space Quantum Theory
- Experimental refutation of real-valued quantum mechanics under strict locality conditions
- Fermionic computation is non-local tomographic and violates monogamy of entanglement
- Quantum simulation from the bottom up: the case of rebits
- Improved precision scaling for simulating coupled quantum-classical dynamics
- Partial independence suffices to rule out Real Quantum Theory experimentally
- Strict advantage of complex quantum theory in a communication task
- Phase Coordinate Uncomputation in Quantum Recursive Fourier Sampling