THE VIDEO SHELF · complex numbers in quantum mechanics
Do Complex Numbers Exist?
Sabine Hossenfelder asks whether complex numbers are just a convenient tool or necessary in physics. She discusses a recent paper arguing that quantum mechanics cannot be done with real numbers alone.
Why HN readers recommended it
HN recommends it as a short, accessible layperson explanation of the real-versus-complex quantum theory debate.
This is a summary from the source dataset, not an endorsement by Hacker News or the video creator.
Video & recommendation details
- Creator / channel
- Sabine Hossenfelder
- Topic
- complex numbers in quantum mechanics
- Format
- explainer
- Level
- intro
- HN recommenders in dataset
- 3
- HN mentions in dataset
- 3
- Recommendation years in dataset
- 2021–2023
These counts and years describe the included Hacker News records; they are not YouTube views or the video’s publication date.
From the original HN conversations
Excerpts from the recorded comments. Follow each source for the full comment and surrounding discussion.
I highly recommend video by Sabine Hossenfelder [1] on this topic. She's explaining the topic in layman terms, starting from what does it mean to exist (or be real) in physical sense. Complex numbers, as useful as they are, just an abstraction, a tool which …
viktorcode on Hacker News · 2022-02
In How the modern world arose from imaginary numbersThere is a nice 10 minute discussion about this paper by physicist Sabine Hossenfelder on her "Science without the gobbelydgook" youtube series (which I recommend). She considers the existential questions regarding necessity of complex numbers a "super-niche nerd fight". You can find the video here …
johnp271 on Hacker News · 2021-12
In Quantum theory based on real numbers can be experimentally falsifiedThis video by Sabine Hossenfelder is probably more informative on this topic: [VIDEO] (it discusses this paper).
ars on Hacker News · 2023-04
In Quantum Physics Falls Apart Without Imaginary Numbers
Summaries, classifications and recommendation records are from the HackerTube source dataset. Read about this library and its limitations.