REVIEW 1 major objections 86 references
The quantum harmonic oscillator and the real Hilbert space
T0 review · 1 major / 0 minor · reviewed 2026-06-27 · grok-4.3
Pith's one-line read The quantum harmonic oscillator admits complex and quaternionic wave-function descriptions in real Hilbert space that suit non-stationary processes.
desk verdict The abstract claims quaternionic real-Hilbert-space descriptions are required for self-interacting oscillators that standard complex QM cannot handle, but supplies no derivations or counterexamples to back the exclusivity part. read the letter →
The pith
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
The reading
What carries the argument
Real Hilbert space formalism applied to complex and quaternionic wave functions of the quantum harmonic oscillator
What would settle it
Explicit derivation of an inconsistency between the quaternionic wave-function solutions and the standard energy spectrum or time-evolution operator of the stationary quantum harmonic oscillator would falsify the suitability claim.
Extended reading notes
Core claim
By formulating the quantum harmonic oscillator in terms of complex and quaternionic wave functions within the real Hilbert space, the solutions reveal that these descriptions are suitable for non-stationary processes including damped oscillations, forced oscillations, and self-interacting processes that cannot be appropriately described otherwise.
Load-bearing premise
The real Hilbert space formalism remains consistent and physically meaningful when extended to accommodate quaternionic wave functions for the quantum harmonic oscillator.
Editorial extensions
If this is right
- Complex wave functions yield descriptions of damped and forced oscillations.
- Quaternionic wave functions additionally accommodate self-interacting processes.
- Both extensions remain inside the real Hilbert space formalism.
- The complex and quaternionic frameworks address cases that cannot be described appropriately by other means.
Reading between the lines
- The same real-Hilbert-space construction could be applied to other solvable quantum systems to check whether non-stationary extensions appear systematically.
- If the quaternionic solutions prove consistent, they would supply an explicit algebraic route to modeling dissipation without adding external baths or non-Hermitian terms.
- The distinction between stationary and non-stationary regimes might then be re-expressed as a choice of number system rather than a change of dynamical equations.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript examines the harmonic oscillator in generalized frameworks using complex and quaternionic numbers. The classical case uses a complex position function; the quantum cases use complex and quaternionic wave functions, both obtained in the real Hilbert space formalism. The central claim is that these descriptions provide suitable frameworks for non-stationary processes, including damped oscillations, forced oscillations, and self-interacting processes that cannot be appropriately described otherwise.
Significance. If the necessity claim were substantiated, the work would offer an alternative real-Hilbert-space route to certain time-dependent quantum problems. No machine-checked proofs, reproducible code, or parameter-free derivations are present. The significance remains low because the manuscript supplies no concrete demonstration that standard complex QM (time-dependent Schrödinger equation or master equations) is mathematically or physically insufficient for the self-interacting case.
major comments (1)
- [Abstract] Abstract: the exclusivity claim that self-interacting processes 'cannot be appropriately described otherwise' is load-bearing for the headline result yet is unsupported; no derivation, counter-example, or explicit comparison is given showing where the standard complex formulation fails while the quaternionic real-Hilbert-space construction succeeds. Standard time-dependent potentials and non-Hermitian terms already accommodate forced and damped oscillators, so the necessity step requires explicit verification.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for their careful reading and constructive feedback on the manuscript. We respond to the major comment below.
read point-by-point responses
-
Referee: [Abstract] Abstract: the exclusivity claim that self-interacting processes 'cannot be appropriately described otherwise' is load-bearing for the headline result yet is unsupported; no derivation, counter-example, or explicit comparison is given showing where the standard complex formulation fails while the quaternionic real-Hilbert-space construction succeeds. Standard time-dependent potentials and non-Hermitian terms already accommodate forced and damped oscillators, so the necessity step requires explicit verification.
Authors: The referee is correct that the manuscript provides no explicit derivation, counter-example, or side-by-side comparison establishing that the standard complex formulation is insufficient for self-interacting processes. The abstract phrasing was intended to underscore the natural inclusion of such terms via the non-commutative quaternionic structure within the real-Hilbert-space setting, but this does not constitute a demonstrated necessity. We will revise the abstract to remove the exclusivity claim, replacing it with language indicating that the quaternionic real-Hilbert-space description supplies a suitable framework for self-interacting processes alongside damped and forced oscillations. This is a targeted clarification rather than a change to the technical results. revision: partial
Circularity Check
No circularity: no derivation chain or equations supplied to inspect
full rationale
The provided abstract and context contain no equations, no explicit derivations, and no self-citations or fitted parameters. The central claim that quaternionic descriptions are required for self-interacting processes is an unsupported assertion rather than a reduction of a result to its own inputs. Without any load-bearing mathematical steps visible, no instance of self-definitional, fitted-input, or self-citation circularity can be identified. The paper's internal consistency cannot be assessed from the given material, but the absence of any derivation chain means the circularity score is zero by the stated rules.
Assumptions & free parameters
assumptions (1)
- domain assumption Real Hilbert space formalism can consistently host complex and quaternionic wave functions for the quantum harmonic oscillator.
invented entities (1)
-
quaternionic wave function
Cite this review
Pith. "Pith review of The quantum harmonic oscillator and the real Hilbert space." pith.science (2026). https://pith.science/paper/QUKGDVTK
@misc{pith2026260612060,
author = {Pith},
title = {Pith review of: The quantum harmonic oscillator and the real Hilbert space},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://pith.science/paper/QUKGDVTK}},
note = {Machine review of arXiv:2606.12060}
}
read the original abstract
The harmonic oscillator is considered within generalized frameworks using complex and quaternionic numbers. The classical oscillator is considered in terms of a complex position function, and quantum oscillators are examined in terms of complex wave functions, and in terms of quaternionic wave functions as well. Both of the quantum solutions are obtained within the real Hilbert space formalism. The results reveal the complex and quaternionic descriptions as suitable frameworks for non-stationary processes, including damped oscillations, forced oscillations, and additionally self-interacting processes that cannot be appropriately described otherwise.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
Rushka; J
M. Rushka; J. K. Freericks . ``A completely algebraic solution of the simple harmonic oscillator'' . Am. J. Phys. , 88:976--985, (2020)
2020
-
[2]
Moshinsky
M. Moshinsky . ``Transformation brackets for harmonic oscillator functions'' . Nucl. Phys. , 13 (1):104--116, (1959)
1959
-
[3]
Moshinski; Y
M. Moshinski; Y. F. Smirnov . The harmonic oscillator in modern physics . Harwood (1996)
1996
-
[4]
M. F. Bocko; R. Onofrio . ``On the measurement of a weak classical force coupled to a harmonic oscillator: experimental progress'' . Rev. Mod. Phys. , 68 :775, (1996)
1996
-
[5]
Blasone; P
M. Blasone; P. Jizba; G. Vitiello . ``Dissipation and quantization'' . Phys. Lett. , A287 :205--210, (2001)
2001
-
[6]
C-I. Um; K-H. Yeon; T. F. George . ``The quantum damped harmonic oscillator'' . Phys. Rept. , 362 :63--192, (2002)
2002
-
[7]
M. J. Blacker; D. L. Tilbrook . ``Alternative approach to the quantization of the damped harmonic oscillator'' . Phys. Rev. , A104 (3):032211, (2021)
2021
-
[8]
M\'arkus; K
F. M\'arkus; K. Gamb\'ar . ``A potential-based quantization procedure of the damped oscillator'' . Quantum Rep. , 4 (4):390--400, (2022)
2022
Show all 86 references
-
[9]
S. M. Barnett; J. D. Cresser; S. Croke . ``Revisiting the damped quantum harmonic oscillator'' . Phys. Scripta , 99 (2):025109, (2024)
2024
-
[10]
Lawrence; B
S. Lawrence; B. McPeak; D. Neill . ``Bootstrapping time-evolution in quantum mechanics'' . arXiv:2412.08721[hep-th] (2024)
2024
-
[11]
Lo Chiatto; S
P. Lo Chiatto; S. Schenk; F. Yu . ``Quantum imprint of the anharmonic oscillator'' . arXiv:2308.01244[hep-th] (2023)
2023
-
[12]
R. G. Lavoie; L. Marchildon; D. Rochon . ``The Bicomplex Quantum Harmonic Oscillator'' . Nuovo Cimento 125B 1173-92 , (2010)
2010
-
[13]
G. S. Djordjevic; B. Dragovich . ``p-adic and adelic harmonic oscillator with time dependent frequency'' . Theor. Math. Phys. , 124 :1059--1067, (2000)
2000
-
[14]
A. I. Arbab . ``The complex quantum harmonic oscillator model'' . Europhys. Lett , 98 :30008, (2012)
2012
-
[15]
Marsiglio
F. Marsiglio . ``The harmonic oscillator in quantum mechanics: A third way'' . Am. J. Phys. , 77 :253--258, (2009)
2009
-
[16]
D. R. M. Pimentel; A. S. Castro . ``A Laplace transform approach to the quantum harmonic oscillator'' . Eur. J. Phys. , 34 :199, (2013)
2013
-
[17]
Almalki; V
F. Almalki; V. V. Kisil . ``Geometric dynamics of a harmonic oscillator, arbitrary minimal uncertainty states and the smallest step 3 nilpotent Lie group'' . J. Phys. , A52 (2):025301, (2019)
2019
-
[18]
Deguchi; Y
S. Deguchi; Y. Fujiwara . ``Quantization of the damped harmonic oscillator based on a modified Bateman Lagrangian'' . Phys. Rev. , A101 (2):022105, (2020)
2020
-
[19]
Friedmann; C
T. Friedmann; C. R. Hagen . ``Group-theoretical derivation of angular momentum eigenvalues in spaces of arbitrary dimensions'' . J. Math. Phys. , 53 :122102, (2012)
2012
-
[20]
Marquette; C
I. Marquette; C. Quesne . ``Two-step rational extensions of the harmonic oscillator: exceptional orthogonal polynomials and ladder operators'' . J. Phys. , A46 (15):155201, (2013)
2013
-
[21]
Negro; S
Kuru; J. Negro; S. Salamanca . ``Demkov-Fradkin tensor for curved harmonic oscillators'' . Eur. Phys. J. Plus , 140 (2):144, (2025)
2025
-
[22]
F. Vega . ``Oscillators in a (2+1)- dimensional noncommutative space'' . J. Math. Phys. , 55 :032105, (2014)
2014
-
[23]
C. M. Bender; A. Felski; N. Hassanpour; S. P. Klevansky; A. Beygi . ``Analytic structure of eigenvalues of coupled quantum systems'' . Phys. Scripta , 92 (1):015201, (2017)
2017
-
[24]
D. E. Bruschi; G. S. Paraoanu; I. Fuentes; F. K. Wilhelm; A. W. Schell . ``General solution of the time evolution of two interacting harmonic oscillators'' . Phys. Rev. , A103 :023707, (2021)
2021
-
[25]
B. Paul; B. Bandyopadhyay; T. Banerjee . ``Attractive-repulsive interaction in coupled quantum oscillators'' . Phys. Rev. , E110 (3):034210, (2024)
2024
-
[26]
Izadparast; S
M. Izadparast; S. H. Mazharimousavi . ``Two dimensional non-Hermitian harmonic oscillator: coherent states'' . Phys. Scripta , 94 :115215, (2019)
2019
-
[27]
S. Sen; M. Dutta; S. Gangopadhyay . Lewis and Berry phases for a gravitational wave interacting with a quantum harmonic oscillator . Phys. Scripta , 99 (1):015007, (2024)
2024
-
[28]
Sajjad; A
M. Sajjad; A. Russo; M. Arcos; A. Grudka; J. Oppenheim . ``A quantum oscillator interacting with a classical oscillator'' . arXiv:2403.07479[quant-ph] (2024)
2024
-
[29]
Coppo; A
A. Coppo; A. Cuccoli; P. Verrucchi . ``Magnetic clock for a harmonic oscillator'' . Phys. Rev. , A109 (5):052212, (2024)
2024
-
[30]
Pl\'avala; M
M. Pl\'avala; M. Kleinmann . ``Operational theories in phase space: toy model for the harmonic oscillator'' . Phys. Rev. Lett. , 128 (4):040405, (2022)
2022
-
[31]
E. E. N'Dolo . ``Non-Hermitian two-dimensional harmonic oscillator in noncommutative phase-space'' . Int. J. Geom. Meth. Mod. Phys. , 21 (04):2450085, (2024)
2024
-
[32]
Ghose; P
I. Ghose; P. Sen . ``The variational method applied to the harmonic oscillator in the presence of a delta function potential'' . Eur. J. Phys. , 42 :045406, (2021)
2021
-
[33]
Nasuda; N
Y. Nasuda; N. Sawado . ``Harmonic oscillator with a step and its isospectral properties'' . Phys. Scripta , 99 (4):045212, (2024)
2024
-
[34]
Avramov; M
V. Avramov; M. Radomirov; R. C. Rashkov; T. Vetsov . Complexity of quantum harmonic oscillator in external magnetic field'' . arXiv:2407.18631[quant-ph] (2024)
2024
-
[35]
Ghosh; A
A. Ghosh; A. Sinha . ``Pseudo-Hermitian extensions of the harmonic and isotonic oscillators'' . J. Phys. Conf. Ser. , 2986 (1):012004, (2025)
2025
-
[36]
F. M. Fern\'andez; J. Garcia; N. Aquino; A. Flores-Riveros . ``On the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator with an electric field confined to a circular box'' . Phys. Scripta , 99 (12):125278, (2024)
2024
-
[37]
Saner; O
S. Saner; O. B a z a van; D. J. Webb; G. Araneda; D. M. Lucas; C. J. Ballance; R. Srinivas . ``Generating arbitrary superpositions of nonclassical quantum harmonic oscillator states'' . arXiv:2409.03482[quant-ph] (2024)
2024
-
[38]
Chadzitaskos
G. Chadzitaskos . ``Coherent states of the asymmetric harmonic oscillator'' . arXiv:2406.03509[quant-ph] (2024)
2024
-
[39]
P. Patra . ``On the two-dimensional time-dependent anisotropic harmonic oscillator in a magnetic field'' . J. Math. Phys. , 64 (4):042105, (2023)
2023
-
[40]
Kumar; R
R. Kumar; R. K. Yadav; A. Khare . ``Rational extension of anisotropic harmonic oscillator potentials in higher dimensions'' . Annals Phys. , 479 :170045, (2025)
2025
-
[41]
D. M. Tibaduiza; L. Pires; D. Szilard; C. A. D. Zarro; C. Farina; A. L. C. Rego . ``A time-dependent harmonic oscillator with two frequency jumps: an exact algebraic solution'' . Braz. J. Phys. , 50 :634--646, (2020)
2020
-
[42]
Soto-Eguibar; F
F. Soto-Eguibar; F. A. Asenjo; S. A. Hojman; H. M. Moya-Cessa . ``Bohm potential for the time dependent harmonic oscillator'' . J. Math. Phys. , 66 :122103, (2021)
2021
-
[43]
C. Yuce . ``Quantum inverted harmonic potential'' . Phys. Scripta , 96 (10):105006, (2021)
2021
-
[44]
't Hooft
G. 't Hooft . ``The hidden ontological variable in quantum harmonic oscillators'' . Front. Quant. Sci. Tech. , 3 :1505593, (2024)
2024
-
[45]
Chakraborty; A
S. Chakraborty; A. Mazumdar; R. Pradhan . ``Manifestation of quantum entanglement between harmonic oscillators in a de Sitter background'' . Phys. Rev. , D112 (8):085006, (2025)
2025
-
[46]
M. E. Pereira; A. G. Schmidt . ``Analogue black string in a quantum harmonic oscillator'' . Phys. Lett. , A554 :130764, (2025)
2025
-
[47]
Gombar; M
S. Gombar; M. Rutonjski; P. Mali; S. Rado s evi\'c; M. Panti\'c; M. Pavkov-Hrvojevi\'c . ``Infinite series involving special functions obtained using simple one-dimensional quantum mechanical problems'' . J. Phys. , A58 (11):115205, 2025
2025
-
[48]
E. I. Jafarov; S. M. Nagiyev; J. Van der Jeugt . ``Deformation of the Heisenberg-Weyl algebra and the Lie superalgebra osp ( 1|2 ) : exact solution for the quantum harmonic oscillator with a position-dependent mass . Eur. Phys. J. Plus , 140 (4):290, (2025)
2025
-
[49]
Volkoff; G
T. Volkoff; G. Gopalan . ``Length scale estimation of excited quantum oscillators'' . J. Phys. , A58 (41):41LT01, (2025)
2025
-
[50]
S. Alperin . ``The quantum Foucault modes'' . arXiv:2507.18420 [quant-ph] (2025)
2025
-
[51]
Shapovalov; A
A. Shapovalov; A. Breev . ``Harmonic Oscillator Coherent States from the Standpoint of Orbit Theory'' . Symmetry , 15 (2):282, (2023)
2023
-
[52]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic quantum mechanics in real Hilbert space'' . J. Geom. Phys. , 158 :103956, (2020)
2020
-
[53]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Non-anti-hermitian quaternionic quantum mechanics'' . Adv. Appl. Clifford Algebras , 28 (1):19, (2018)
2018
-
[54]
S. L. Adler . ``Quaternionic Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Fields'' . Oxford University Press (1995)
1995
-
[55]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic Aharonov-Bohm Effect'' . Adv. Appl. Clifford Algebras , 27 (3):2445--2456, (2017)
2017
-
[56]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic quantum particles'' . Adv. Appl. Clifford Algebras , 29 (4):83, (2019)
2019
-
[57]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic quantum particles: new solutions'' . Can. J. Phys. , 99 :4, 6 (2017)
2017
-
[58]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Self-interacting quantum particles'' . Int. J. Geom. Meth. Mod. Phys. 22 , 12, 2550088 (2025)
2025
-
[59]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Virial theorem and generalized momentum in quaternionic quantum mechanics'' . Eur. Phys. J. Plus , 135 (1):114, (2020)
2020
-
[60]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Square-well potential in quaternic quantum mechanics'' . Europhys. Lett. , 132 :20007, 9 (2020)
2020
-
[61]
Giardino
S. Giardino . Quantum self-interaction within an infinitely deep cavity . Phys. Lett. , A578 :131474, (2026)
2026
-
[62]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic elastic scattering'' . EPL , 132 (5):50010, (2020)
2020
-
[63]
Hasan; B
M. Hasan; B. P. Mandal . ``New scattering features of quaternionic point interaction in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics'' . J. Math. Phys. , 61 (3):032104, (2020)
2020
-
[64]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic quantum harmonic oscillator'' . Eur. Phys. J. Plus , 136 (1):120, (2021)
2021
-
[65]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Deformed angular momentum algebra within the real Hilbert space'' . Int. J. Theor. Phys. , 65 (4):97, (2026)
2026
-
[66]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Spin and angular momentum in quaternionic quantum mechanics'' . EPL , 142 (1):12001, (2023)
2023
-
[67]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Self-interacting quantum particles and the Dirac delta potential'' . Braz. J. Phys. , 56 (1):46, (2026)
2026
-
[68]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Generalized imaginary units in quantum mechanics'' . Int. J. Geom. Meth. Math. Phys. (accept) arXiv:2311.14162[quant-ph] (2023)
2023
-
[69]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic Klein-Gordon equation'' . Eur. Phys. J. Plus , 136 (6):612, (2021)
2021
-
[70]
C. Rosa; S. Giardino . ``Klein-Gordon equation within the real Hilbert space formalism'' . Annals Phys. , 483 :170271, (2025)
2025
-
[71]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic Dirac free particle'' . Int. J. Mod. Phys. , A36 (33):2150257, (2021)
2021
-
[72]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic scalar field in the real Hilbert space'' . Int. J. Mod. Phys. , A37 (15):2250101, (2022)
2022
-
[73]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Quaternionic fermionic field'' . Int. J. Mod. Phys. , A37 (31n32):2250199, (2022)
2022
-
[74]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Expectation value dynamics within real Hilbert space quantum mechanics'' . Int. J. Theor. Phys. , 64 (10):257, (2025)
2025
-
[75]
Finkelstein
J. Finkelstein . ``In defense of real quantum theory'' . arXiv:2103.12740[quant-ph] (2021)
2021
-
[76]
Chiribella; K
G. Chiribella; K. R. Davidson; V. I. Paulsen; M. Rahaman . ``Positive Maps and Entanglement in Real Hilbert Spaces'' . Annales Henri Poincare , 24 (12):4139--4168, (2023)
2023
-
[77]
h. Zhu . ``Hiding and masking quantum information in complex and real quantum mechanics'' . Phys. Rev. Res. , 3 (3):033176, (2021)
2021
-
[78]
C. A. Fuchs; M. Olshanii; M. B. Weiss . ``Quantum mechanics? It's all fun and games until someone loses an i '' . arXiv:2206.15343 [quant-ph] (2022)
2022
-
[79]
V. Vedral . ``Quantum Mechanics with Real Numbers: Entanglement, Superselection Rules and Gauges'' . Quanta , 12 (1):164--170, (2023)
2023
-
[80]
Renou, D
M.-O. Renou, D. Trillo; M. Weilenmann; T. P. Le; A. Tavakoli; N. Gisin; A. Acin; M; Navascues . ``Quantum theory based on real numbers can be experimentally falsified'' . Nature , 600 (7890):625--629, (2021)
2021
-
[81]
Chen; et
M.-C. Chen; et. alii . ``Ruling out real-valued standard formalism of quantum theory'' . Phys. Rev. Lett. , 128 (4):040403, (2022)
2022
-
[82]
Wu, Dian, et
D. Wu, Dian, et. alii . ``Experimental refutation of real-valued quantum mechanics under strict locality conditions'' . Phys. Rev. Lett. , 129 (14):140401, (2022)
2022
-
[83]
Giardino
S. Giardino . ``Classical and quantum complex dynamics'' . EPL , 150 (1):12001, (2025)
2025
-
[84]
J. P. Ward . ``Quaternions and Cayley Numbers'' . Springer Dordrecht (1997)
1997
-
[85]
ossig . ``Real Quaternionic Calculus Handbook'' . Birkh\
J. P. Morais; S. Georgiev; W. Spr\"ossig . ``Real Quaternionic Calculus Handbook'' . Birkh\"auser , (2014)
2014
-
[86]
Ebbinghaus et al
H.-D. Ebbinghaus et al. Numbers . Springer , (1990)
1990
Reviewed June 27, 2026 · model on record in the stance chip above.
Discussion (0). Continue with ORCID to comment.