# Physicists Prove That the Imaginary Part of Quantum Mechanics Really Exists! **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893 "2021-04-28T18:38:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![socrat44](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/socrat44/32/26_2.png) [@socrat44](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/socrat44)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/1 "2021-04-28T18:38:09Z")
Physicists Prove That the Imaginary Part of Quantum Mechanics Really Exists! By Faculty of Physics University of Warsaw on Apr 27, 2021 * * * “In physics, complex numbers were considered to be purely mathematical in nature. It is true that although they play a basic role in quantum mechanics equations, they were treated simply as a tool, something to facilitate calculations for physicists. Now, we have theoretically and experimentally proved that there are quantum states that can only be distinguished when the calculations are performed with the indispensable participation of complex numbers,” explains Dr. Streltsov. > **[Physicists Prove That the Imaginary Part of Quantum Mechanics Really Exists!](https://scitechdaily.com/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/amp/?fbclid=IwAR3DYQJUeG8V-En2EPIXRsOBteazTiYRs2RKkcyMcaJRciNuDKGkIFzeblE)** > > An international research team has proven that the imaginary part of quantum mechanics can be observed in action in the real world. For almost a century, physicists have been intrigued by the fundamental question: why are complex numbers so important... ====== ---
**Author:** ![write4u](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/write4u/32/23410_2.png) [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/2 "2021-04-28T21:25:07Z")
> In physics, complex numbers were considered to be purely mathematical in nature. Yes, but what few physicists realize is that the universe is a mathematical object and respond to mathematical functions. Max Tegmark has proposed a "mathematical Universe" for some time now. To me that sounds eminently reasonable and would explain why human symbolized mathematics are so effective in unraveling the properties and functions of all things in the Universe. ---
**Author:** ![citizenschallengev3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/citizenschallengev3/32/17_2.png) [@citizenschallengev3](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev3)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/3 "2021-04-28T21:39:50Z")
  > Physicists Prove That the Imaginary Part of Quantum Mechanics Really Exists! By Faculty of Physics University of Warsaw on Apr 27, 2021 > > … The experiment verifying the role of complex numbers in quantum mechanics can be presented in the form of a game played by Alice and Bob with the participation of a master conducting the game. Using a device with lasers and crystals, the game master binds two photons into one of two quantum states, absolutely requiring the use of complex numbers to distinguish between them. Then, one photon is sent to Alice and the other to Bob. Each of them measures their photon and then communicates with the other to establish any existing correlations. > > “Let’s assume Alice and Bob’s measurement results can only take on the values of 0 or 1. Alice sees a nonsensical sequence of 0s and 1s, as does Bob. However, if they communicate, they can establish links between the relevant measurements. If the game master sends them a correlated state, when one sees a result of 0, so will the other. If they receive an anti-correlated state, when Alice measures 0, Bob will have 1. By mutual agreement, Alice and Bob could distinguish our states, but only if their quantum nature was fundamentally complex,” says Dr. Streltsov. > > An approach known as quantum resource theory was used for the theoretical description. The experiment itself with local discrimination between entangled two-photon states was carried out in the laboratory at Hefei using linear optics techniques. The quantum states prepared by the researchers turned out to be distinguishable, which proves that complex numbers are an integral, indelible part of quantum mechanics. …   If you can make sense of that, more power to you! ---
**Author:** ![socrat44](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/socrat44/32/26_2.png) [@socrat44](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/socrat44)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/4 "2021-04-29T03:12:42Z")
‘’ . . . complex numbers are an integral, indelible part of quantum mechanics . . . ‘’ " The mathematics of QM is straightforward, but making the connection between the mathematics and an intuitive picture of the physical world is very hard" / Claude N. Cohen-Tannoudji . Nobel Prize in Physics 1997 / Do Complex Numbers Exist? 175,946 views• 6 Mar 2021 [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/centerforinquiry/original/3X/c/5/c590027cd2e822513e439773c156ac0b1fd70823.jpeg "Do Complex Numbers Exist?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALc8CBYOfkw) ==== ---
**Author:** ![citizenschallengev3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/citizenschallengev3/32/17_2.png) [@citizenschallengev3](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev3)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2021, 9:04am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/5 "2021-04-29T09:04:25Z")
niche controversy and super niche controversy With the prelude we head into the weeds. Interesting video, thank you. I’ve got a slightly better idea of what this is about, and I’m grateful, though it still makes my head spin and fortunately I can live without it. Though that won’t stop me from peeking in and experiencing this stuff blow my mind, though not my nose. 😉   ---
**Author:** ![socrat44](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/socrat44/32/26_2.png) [@socrat44](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/socrat44)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2021, 9:09am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/6 "2021-04-30T09:09:12Z")
‘‘Mathematics is the queen of the sciences and number theory is the queen of mathematics.’’ / Carl Friedrich Gauss / All numbers , , , including imaginary numbers Is imaginary number theory real? If this is true, then it is possible that we live in metaphysical reality ‘’Imaginary numbers are a fine and wonderful refuge of the divine spirit, almost an amphibian between being and non-being.’’ / Gottfried Leibniz / If this is true, then it is possible that in the beginning were imaginary numbers, then complex and at end real numbers. # ‘’One might think this means that imaginary numbers are just a mathematical game having nothing to do with the real world. From the viewpoint of positivist philosophy, however, one cannot determine what is real. All one can do is find which mathematical models describe the universe we live in. It turns out that a mathematical model involving imaginary time predicts not only effects we have already observed but also effects we have not been able to measure yet nevertheless believe in for other reasons. So what is real and what is imaginary? Is the distinction just in our minds?’’ / Stephen Hawking // ===== … ---
**Author:** ![socrat44](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/socrat44/32/26_2.png) [@socrat44](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/socrat44)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/7 "2021-05-03T00:46:05Z")
Quantum complexity problem: dualism of quantum particle and monism of an absolute 4D spacetime ================ ---
**Author:** ![cuthbertj](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/cuthbertj/32/18_2.png) [@cuthbertj](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/cuthbertj)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 6:27pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/8 "2021-05-04T18:27:44Z")
Forgot who said it but it’s relevant: don’t mistake the description for the thing being described. Imaginary numbers are just tools for description. If physicists happen to need that tool in their current descriptions, big whoop. Doesn’t say much about the real world. ---
**Author:** ![write4u](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/write4u/32/23410_2.png) [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/9 "2021-10-09T13:10:17Z")
> [quote=“citizenschallengev3, post:3, topic:7893”] > If you can make sense of that, more power to you! It makes perfect sense if you consider that at the extreme fundamental “state”, there exist only three elementary “values”. **Elementary particle** > **In particle physics, an elementary particle or fundamental particle is a subatomic particle that is not composed of other particles.[1]: 1–3** > Particles currently thought to be elementary include the fundamental fermions (quarks, leptons, antiquarks, and antileptons), which generally are “matter particles” and “antimatter particles”, as well as the fundamental bosons (gauge bosons and the Higgs boson), which generally are “force particles” that mediate interactions among fermions.[1]: 1–3 A particle containing two or more elementary particles is a composite particle. > Around 1980, an elementary particle’s status as indeed elementary – an ultimate constituent of substance – was mostly discarded for a more practical outlook,[1]: 1–3 embodied in particle physics’ Standard Model, what’s known as science’s most experimentally successful theory.[4][6] > Many elaborations upon and theories beyond the Standard Model, including the popular supersymmetry, double the number of elementary particles by hypothesizing that each known particle associates with a “shadow” partner far more massive,[7][8] although all such superpartners remain undiscovered.[6][9] > Meanwhile, an elementary boson mediating gravitation – the graviton – remains hypothetical.[1]: 1–3 Also, according to some hypotheses, spacetime is quantized, so within these hypotheses there probably exist “atoms” of space and time themselves.[10] > **[Elementary particle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_particle)** > > In particle physics, an elementary particle or fundamental particle is a subatomic particle that is not composed of other particles. The Standard Model presently recognizes seventeen distinct particles—twelve fermions and five bosons. As a consequence of flavor and color combinations and antimatter, the fermions and bosons are known to have 48 and 13 variations, respectively. Among the 61 elementary particles embraced by the Standard Model number: electrons and other leptons, quarks, and th Ordin... We call them particles, but they are not yet physical objects, they are fundamental “values”. ---
**Author:** ![socrat44](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/socrat44/32/26_2.png) [@socrat44](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/socrat44)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/10 "2021-10-10T12:28:58Z")
In nature the fundamental particle is atom atom = electron + proton electron is fermion an active particle force proton is boson a passive particle ===== **strong text** ---
**Author:** ![citizenschallengev4](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/citizenschallengev4/32/28718_2.png) [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 1:34pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/11 "2021-10-10T13:34:27Z")
> [@write4u](#): > > We call them particles, but they are not yet physical objects, they are fundamental “values”. A slight correction, since you are going for exactitude. > We call them particles, but they are not yet physical objects, so we call them fundamental “values”. 🙋🏼‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![lausten](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/lausten/32/23705_2.png) [@lausten](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/lausten)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/physicists-prove-that-the-imaginary-part-of-quantum-mechanics-really-exists/7893/12 "2021-10-10T13:43:18Z")
I remember being shown how to graph an imaginary number once. I think it was high school math. It wasn’t on the test. I didn’t quite get it. I promptly forgot it