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That's a subset of the linear algebra used in quantum mechanics, no? Any transformation between QM states can be expressed as a unitary matrix - this is not a p
by comicjk 9y ago
That's a subset of the linear algebra used in quantum mechanics, no? Any transformation between QM states can be expressed as a unitary matrix - this is not a particular characteristic of scattering phenomena with S-matrices. The quantum states are still vectors, as in the rest of QM.
- qubex 9y agoOn second thoughts, I expressed myself very poorly... it goes without saying that matrices and linear algebra are identical; what I meant was that one can compute quantum interactions with the S-Matrix alone and not need to ‘explicitly’ use linear algebra concepts to deal with superposition of states & cetra. The focus on the s-matrix as a fundamental formalism was spearheaded by Wheeler, Heisenberg, and Landau (and amongst others), if my memory serves. P.S. Even this statement is formally quite weak, but hopefully I have clarified myself enough to transfer my intended meaning. Apologies.