United KingdomResearchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have challenged the necessity of complex numbers in quantum mechanics. Their study, published in Physical Review Letters, argues that quantum mechanics can be formulated using only real numbers, contrary to previous conclusions that complex numbers were essential. The team re-examined foundational postulates of quantum theory and found one to be overly restrictive. They proposed an alternative method for describing composite systems that allows for real-number-based formulations, producing experimentally indistinguishable results from traditional quantum mechanics. This challenges the assumption that complex numbers are fundamental to the theory rather than merely a computational convenience.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses a scientific discovery related to quantum mechanics and does not involve political figures, policies, or contentious issues. It presents findings from academic researchers without apparent ideological framing or bias.
