QM

Jul. 31st, 2012 12:34 pm
109: (Default)
[personal profile] 109
 
красивое объяснение, почему амплитуды обязаны быть комплексными, чтобы соответствовать физической реальности:



Suppose we require that, for every linear transformation U that we can apply to a state, there must be another transformation V such that V2 = U. This is basically a continuity assumption: we're saying that, if it makes sense to apply an operation for one second, then it ought to make sense to apply that same operation for only half a second.

Can we get that with only real amplitudes? Well, consider the following linear transformation:

This transformation is just a mirror reversal of the plane. That is, it takes a two-dimensional Flatland creature and flips it over like a pancake, sending its heart to the other side of its two-dimensional body. But how do you apply half of a mirror reversal without leaving the plane? You can't! If you want to flip a pancake by a continuous motion, then you need to go into ... dum dum dum ... THE THIRD DIMENSION.

More generally, if you want to flip over an N-dimensional object by a continuous motion, then you need to go into the (N+1)st dimension.

But what if you want every linear transformation to have a square root in the same number of dimensions? Well, in that case, you have to allow complex numbers.



http://www.scottaaronson.com/democritus/lec9.html

Profile

109: (Default)
109

March 2019

S M T W T F S
     12
3456789
101112131415 16
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags