Group Theoretical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics

Book excerpt: Table of Contents Preface 1 Foundations 1 2 Why Geometry, so Physics, Require Complex Numbers 25 3 Properties of Statefunctions 38 4 The Foundations of Coherent Superposition 58 5 Geometry, Transformations, Groups and Observers 85 6 The Poincare Group and Its Implications 108 7 The Dimension of Space 122 8 Bosons, Fermions, Spinors and Orthogonal Groups 146 9 The Complete Reasonableness of Quantum Mechanics 159 A: Terminology and Conventions 177 The Einstein Podolsky Rosen Paradox 185 Experimental Meaning of the Concept of Identical Particles 191 Nonexistence of Superselection Rules; Definition of Term "Frame of Reference" 203 Complex Groups, Quantum Mechanics, and the Dimension and Reality of Space 221 The Reality and Dimension of Space and the Complexity of Quantum Mechanics 235 References 255 Index 259.