High School A quick question about Planck's constant

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the interpretation of Planck's constant, specifically addressing the claim that it is an "energy oscillator composed of imaginary and real numbers." Participants clarify that Planck's constant is a real number, not an oscillator, and emphasize the importance of proper citations when referencing scientific literature. They highlight the necessity of understanding quantum mechanics mathematics to grasp the relationship between complex numbers and oscillators, suggesting that the original claim may stem from a misunderstanding of the material.

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  • Understanding of Planck's constant in quantum mechanics
  • Familiarity with complex numbers and their applications in physics
  • Knowledge of the time-independent Schrödinger equation
  • Ability to reference and critique scientific literature
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  • Study the mathematical foundations of quantum mechanics
  • Learn about the time-independent Schrödinger equation and its implications
  • Explore the role of complex numbers in quantum physics
  • Read authoritative textbooks on quantum mechanics for accurate context
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Students of physics, educators in quantum mechanics, and anyone seeking to clarify misconceptions about Planck's constant and its mathematical implications.

hongseok
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What does it mean to say that Planck's constant is an energy oscillator composed of imaginary and real numbers?
This is an expression I saw in a book.
What does it mean to say that Planck's constant is an energy oscillator composed of imaginary and real numbers?
This is an expression I saw in a book.
 
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hongseok said:
This is an expression I saw in a book.
@hongseok, "I saw in a book" is exactly equivalent to "I overheard some guy on a bus saying" and is not a valid reference here on PF. We would need to know EXACTLY what you read and who said it so please make specific citations for such questions.
 
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hongseok said:
What does it mean to say that Planck's constant is an energy oscillator composed of imaginary and real numbers?
This is an expression I saw in a book.
Either the book is wrong or you have misunderstood what it was saying.
Planck's constant is a number not an oscillator, and it is real not imaginary.

It is true that complex numbers and oscillators appear through the mathematics of quantum mechanics, but there's no way of making sense of that without actually doing the math. For that you will need a proper textbook, there are a bunch of recommendations in other threads here.
 
hongseok said:
This is an expression I saw in a book.
What book?
 
Lets see what the OP says. I suspect the book is not in English, though. I searched for the quote and found nothing.
 
Thank you everyone. As you said, it is not a book written in English. After referring to other threads, I think I misunderstood the context of the book.
Thank you for answering my inexperienced questions with sincerity.
 
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Solution of time independent Shroedinger equation with energy eugenvalue E holds oscillating factor of
e^{iE/ \hbar \ t} in time. That was my best guess.
 
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