Bounded Return Selects the Imaginary

This simulation compares four real one-parameter motions on a plane: scaling, shear, spiral drift, and rotation. It tests boundedness, norm preservation, and return to the initial state. The rotational branch is generated by J = [[0,-1],[1,0]], for which J² = −I.

1. Real scaling

2. Shear

3. Spiral drift

4. Rotation / complex phase

Counter-spiral cancellation

The paper first pairs expanding and contracting real spirals: r₊(θ)=Re^{κθ}, r₋(θ)=Re^{-κθ}. Their product remains R² and their geometric mean remains R. This cancels radial drift, but it is not yet complex phase. Rotation supplies the bounded returning branch.

Generator test

MotionGenerator GKey propertyExpected result
ScalingκIe^{κt} changes normUnbounded or decaying; no nontrivial return
Shear[[0,s],[0,0]]G²=0Linear drift; no return
SpiralκI+ωJRotation plus radial driftWinds inward/outward; no closure when κ≠0
RotationωJJ²=−IBounded, norm-preserving, periodic return

Interpretation

A successful numerical result does not prove that all physical phase must arise this way. It verifies the limited mathematical statement implemented here: among these standard two-dimensional one-parameter branches, pure rotation preserves radius and returns periodically, while real scaling, shear, and nonzero radial spiral drift do not.