Physicists say quantum mechanics may not need imaginary numbers after all

Physicists are re-evaluating the necessity of imaginary numbers in quantum mechanics, a framework long considered essential for describing atomic-scale phenomena. New research suggests that the mathematical foundations of quantum theory might be reformulated using only real numbers.
Why it matters
Challenging the fundamental mathematical requirements of quantum mechanics could lead to a deeper understanding of physical reality and potentially impact future quantum computing technologies.
Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics that explains how matter and energy behave at the atomic and sub atomic scale. Developed in the early 1900s by pioneers including Max Planck, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, and Erwin Schr dinger, it has become one of the most successful scientific theories ever created.
The article is a scientific report on academic research and does not contain political or social bias.
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