COMMENTS ON GOODS PROPOSAL FOR NEW RULES OF QUANTIZATION

In a recent paper [J. Math. Phys, 35, 3333 (1994)] Good postulated new rules of quantization, one of the major features of which is that the quantum evolution of the wave function is always given by ordinary differential equations, In this paper we analyze the proposal in some detail and discuss its viability and its relationship with the standard quantum theory. As a byproduct, a simple derivation of the ''mass spectrum'' for the Klein-Gordon field is presented, but it is also shown that there is a complete additional spectrum of negative ''masses.'' Finally, two major reasons are presented against the viability of this alternative proposal: (a) It does not lead to the correct energy spectrum for the hydrogen atom, (b) For field models, the standard quantum theory cannot be recovered from this alternative description. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.