Editing Wick rotation (section)

== Further details ==
The [[Schrödinger equation]] and the [[heat equation]] are also related by Wick rotation.

Wick rotation also relates a [[quantum field theory]] at a finite [[inverse temperature]] {{math|''β''}} to a statistical-mechanical model over the "tube" {{math|'''R'''<sup>3</sup> × ''S''<sup>1</sup>}} with the imaginary time coordinate {{math|''τ''}} being periodic with period {{math|''β''}}.  However, there is a slight difference. Statistical-mechanical [[N-point function|{{mvar|n}}-point functions]] satisfy positivity, whereas Wick-rotated quantum field theories satisfy [[Schwinger function#Reflection positivity|reflection positivity]].{{Explain|date=August 2016}}

Note, however, that the Wick rotation cannot be viewed as a rotation on a complex vector space that is equipped with the conventional norm and metric induced by the [[inner product]], as in this case the rotation would cancel out and have no effect.