A Deflationary Account of Quantum Theory and its Implications for the Complex Numbers
Fuente:
arXiv
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| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866908802412969984 |
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| author | Barandes, Jacob A. |
| author_facet | Barandes, Jacob A. |
| contents | Why does quantum theory need the complex numbers? With a view toward answering this question, this paper argues that the usual Hilbert-space formalism is a special case of the general method of Markovian embeddings. This paper then describes the indivisible interpretation of quantum theory, according to which a quantum system can be regarded as an indivisible stochastic process unfolding in an old-fashioned configuration space, with wave functions and other exotic Hilbert-space ingredients demoted from having an ontological status. The complex numbers end up being necessary to ensure that the Hilbert-space formalism is indeed a Markovian embedding. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_01043 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | A Deflationary Account of Quantum Theory and its Implications for the Complex Numbers Barandes, Jacob A. Quantum Physics History and Philosophy of Physics Why does quantum theory need the complex numbers? With a view toward answering this question, this paper argues that the usual Hilbert-space formalism is a special case of the general method of Markovian embeddings. This paper then describes the indivisible interpretation of quantum theory, according to which a quantum system can be regarded as an indivisible stochastic process unfolding in an old-fashioned configuration space, with wave functions and other exotic Hilbert-space ingredients demoted from having an ontological status. The complex numbers end up being necessary to ensure that the Hilbert-space formalism is indeed a Markovian embedding. |
| title | A Deflationary Account of Quantum Theory and its Implications for the Complex Numbers |
| topic | Quantum Physics History and Philosophy of Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.01043 |