Quantum Mechanics as Energy-State Transitions: An Energy-Efficiency Interpretation

Quantum mechanics describes microscopic phenomena with extraordinary precision, yet its ontological foundations remain contested. This paper develops a complementary interpretation within Energy-Efficiency Theory (EET). Starting from the three axioms, we introduce the energy ratio η as a functional of the quantum state via a decomposition of the Hamiltonian into free and constrained parts: η(ψ) = ⟨ψ|Ĥ_free|ψ⟩ / ⟨ψ|Ĥ_bound|ψ⟩ (with η→∞ when the denominator vanishes, corresponding to a pure free state). This parameter quantifies the balance between wave-like (free) and particle-like (bound) behavior. We derive explicit relations connecting η to standard quantum observables: η ∝ Ω/Γ for driven two-level systems,…