Using a variational formulation, we show that Schrodinger's 4th-order, real-valued matter-wave equation which involves the spatial derivatives of the potential V(r), produces the precise eigenvalues of Schrodinger's 2nd-order, complex-valued matter-wave equation together with an equal number of negative, mirror eigenvalues. Accordingly, the paper concludes that there is a real-valued description of non-relativistic quantum mechanics in association with the existence of negative (repelling) energy levels. Schrodinger's classical 2nd-order, complex-valued matter-wave equation which was constructed upon factoring the 4th-order, real-valued differential operator and retaining only one of the two conjugate complex operators is a simpler description of the matter-wave, since it does not involve the derivatives of the potential V(r), at the expense of missing the negative (repelling) energy levels.
Using a variational formulation, we show that Schrodinger's 4th-order, real-valued matter-wave equation which involves the spatial derivatives of the potential V(r), produces the precise eigenvalues of Schrodinger's 2nd-order, complex-valued matter-wave equation together with an equal number of negative, mirror eigenvalues. Accordingly, the paper concludes that there is a real-valued description of non-relativistic quantum mechanics in association with the existence of negative (repelling) energy levels. Schrodinger's classical 2nd-order, complex-valued matter-wave equation which was constructed upon factoring the 4th-order, real-valued differential operator and retaining only one of the two conjugate complex operators is a simpler description of the matter-wave, since it does not involve the derivatives of the potential V(r), at the expense of missing the negative (repelling) energy levels.
Using a variational formulation, we show that Schrödinger's 4th-order, real-valued matter-wave equation which involves the spatial derivatives of the potential V ( r ) , produces the precise eigenvalues of Schrödinger's 2nd-order, complex-valued matter-wave equation together with an equal number of negative, mirror eigenvalues. The variational forms of the matter-wave equations are computed numerically with a Ritz-spline method and we show how this method handles accurately discontinuous potentials with singular derivatives. Accordingly, the paper concludes that there is a real-valued description of non-relativistic quantum mechanics in association with the existence of negative, mirror energy levels. Schrödinger's classical 2nd-order, complex-valued matter-wave equation which was constructed upon factoring the 4th-order, real-valued differential operator and retaining only one of the two conjugate complex operators is a simpler description of the matter-wave, since it does not involve the derivatives of the potential V ( r ) , at the expense of missing the negative, mirror energy levels. • Variational formulations are derived for Schrödinger’s 2nd- and 4th-order matter-wave equations. • A novel Ritz spline method is developed to solve numerically for the eigenenergies and corresponding wave functions. • Schrödinger’s 4th-order matter-wave equation is real-valued, but includes spatial derivatives of the potential. • The 4th-order, real-valued formulation produces all eigenvalues of the 2nd-order equation, plus a set of mirror eigenvalues. • A real-valued description of non-relativistic quantum mechanics exists, based on Schrödinger’s 4th-order equation.
In this paper we first show that, there exists a precise mechanical analogue for the one-dimensional version of Schrodinger's original 4th-order, real-valued matter-wave equation. It is a composite, flexural-shear beam supported on distributed elastic springs. Nevertheless, in spite of this finding, this paper shows that it is not possible to construct a physically realizable mechanical analogue for Schrodinger's 2nd-order, complex valued matter-wave equation which yields lower eigenvalues; therefore, lower energy levels than these predicted with his original 4th-order, real-valued matter-wave equation.
vol. 81, 1926 paper, Schrödinger has developed a clear understanding about the wave equation that produces the correct quadratic dispersion relation for matter-waves and he first presents a real-valued wave equation that is fourth-order in space and second-order in time. In the view of the mathematical difficulties associated with the eigenvalue analysis of a fourth-order, differential equation in association with the structure of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation, Schrödinger splits the fourth-order real operator into the product of two, second-order, conjugate complex operators and retains only one of the two complex operators to construct his iconic second-order, complex-valued wave equation. In this paper, we show that Schrödinger's original fourth-order, real-valued wave equation is a stiffer equation that produces higher energy levels than his second-order, complex-valued wave equation that predicts with remarkable accuracy the energy levels observed in the atomic line spectra of the chemical elements. Accordingly, the fourth-order, real-valued wave equation is too stiff to predict the emitted energy levels from the electrons of the chemical elements; therefore, the paper concludes that quantum mechanics can only be described with the less stiff, second-order, complex-valued wave equation.
Abstract:This paper presents a formal derivation of a purely real-valued Time-Dependent Schrödinger Equation, eliminating the historical requirement for the imaginary unit i (where i² = -1) in quantum mechanics. Traditional frameworks necessitate complex-valued fields because the standard legacy number line is structurally asymmetrical, treating the negative domain as a value-sink that induces exponential decay in first-order differential systems. By applying the Identity View of Mirror Magnitude, we establish a mathematically stable, single-dimensional vector space where negative magnitude increases symmetrically away from zero. Under this framework, the sign rules of multi-term operations preserve domain identity, allowing continuous quantum wave oscillations to propagate natively along a purely real track, rendering complex arithmetic patches structurally redundant.
We derive a 'master' wave equation for a family of complex-valued waves whose phase dynamics is dictated by the Hamilton–Jacobi equation for the classical action . For a special choice of the dynamics of the amplitude R which eliminates all remnants of classical mechanics associated with our wave equation reduces to the Schrödinger equation. In this case the amplitude satisfies a Schrödinger equation analogous to that of a charged particle in an electromagnetic field where the roles of the scalar and the vector potentials are played by the classical energy and the momentum, respectively. In general this amplitude is complex and thereby creates in addition to the classical phase a quantum phase. Classical statistical mechanics, as described by a classical matter wave, follows from our wave equation when we choose the dynamics of the amplitude such that it remains real for all times. Our analysis shows that classical and quantum matter waves are distinguished by two different choices of the dynamics of their amplitudes rather than two values of Planck's constant.
The postulates of quantum mechanics associate the time-evolution of a system with its time-dependent Schrödinger equation. We start by examining different solutions to this equation for a particle, represented in terms of a Gaussian wave packet, in different scenarios: free, scattered from a potential energy barrier, or trapped in a potential energy well. In some cases, we encounter stationary solutions, in which the probability density does not change in time (a standing wave). These solutions are identified as eigenfunctions of a system Hamiltonian. The properties of the Hamiltonian as a Hermitian operator are introduced, and particularly, the fact that its proper eigenfunctions can compose an orthonormal set, and that the corresponding eigenvalues are real-valued. Learning that all operators that relate to measurables are Hermitian, and that their eigenvalues relate to the measured values, we conclude that the eigenvalues of the energy operator (Hamiltonian) are the energy levels of the quantum system.