Quantum Mechanics Based on Real Numbers: A Consistent Description.

Authors

Pedro Barrios Hita, Anton Trushechkin, Hermann Kampermann, Michael Epping, Dagmar Bruß

Published in

Physical review letters. Volume 136. Issue 24. Pages 240202. Jun 19, 2026.

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.

PMID:
42412458
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Jul 2026.

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