Why is Quantum Physics Based on Complex Numbers?

Abstract

The modern quantum theory is based on the assumption that quantum states are represented by elements of a complex Hilbert space. It is expected that in future quantum theory the number field will be not postulated but derived from more general principles. We consider the choice of the number field in quantum theory based on a Galois field (GFQT) discussed in our previous publications. Since any Galois field is not algebraically closed, in the general case there is no guarantee that even a Hermitian operator necessarily has eigenvalues. We assume that the symmetry algebra is the Galois field analog of the de Sitter algebra so(1,4) and consider spinless irreducible representations of this algebra. It is shown that the Galois field analog of complex numbers is the minimal extension of the residue field modulo $p$ for which the representations are fully decomposable.