I The lore on complex probabilities

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arivero
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I think that the lore on the need of having probability interference in quantum mechanics and then a complex probability originates in Feynman interpretation of space-time paths, whose probability is weighed with a complex exponential that approaches a dirac delta.

But I can not pinpoint a concrete source of this lore; perhaps it even predated the path integral. Any guesses?
 
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AFAIK Dirac mentioned it in 32. The Action Principle, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics.
 
Going to check, thanks. It makes sense because Feynman claims to have got is insight from Dirac, I think from some work on contact transformations. But also [I believe to remember that he told...] that he was unable to agree with Dirac on the significance.
 
I see, this is the third edition, that already uses Dirac notation:

1707148447124.png


Is it the same in the 1932 edition?
 
1930 you mean. It was the 1st edition, second came in 1935, third in 1947, and fourth and final in 1958. I don't have access to any of thr first two editions. Very rare in libraries.
 
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