The Two Pictures of Quantum Mechanics

The wave picture and the matrix

 

All the Useful Math

Analytic continuation of wave funtions, analytic functions – all these conceptes developed over hundreds of years, are useful in the wave function picture.  In fact, without these, appropriate  energy levels (or any other measurable results) cannot be derived.

So what happens to all these constructs when we abandon this wave picture (in favor of the matrix picture)?

 

The Stark Contrast

These two  pictures could not be more different – mathematically or physically speaking.

One supports – or at least ALLOWS, determinism in physical laws – whereas the other picture completely eliminates it.

So – What’s the research topic?

Are there experiments that support ONLY one of these two pictures? i.e. the results will be different based on which method was used to derive the results?