On Wed, Dec 12, 2012 at 10:27 AM, Richard Ruquist <[email protected]> wrote:
> Quantum theory must be based on complex variables and not real numbers or > quaternions for example. > Quaternions are used in Quantum Mechanics particularly when spin is involved and it's easy to see why. The real numbers are commutative but there are things in the physical world that are not, so to have a mathematical theory about them you need something, like quaternions, that are non-commutative just like the real world is. Sometimes the order in which something happens makes no difference, 2+4 =4 +2, but in physics sometimes the order is important, for example, turning a book 90 degrees around a vertical axis then 90 degrees around a horizontal axis produces a different result than turning it 90 degrees around a horizontal axis and then 90 degrees around a vertical axis. John K Clark -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en.
