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arXiv:1106.2759

Computations in Finite Groups and Quantum Physics

Vladimir V. Kornyak

Published May 24, 2011• 0 citations
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Abstract

Mathematical core of quantum mechanics is the theory of unitary representations of symmetries of physical systems. We argue that quantum behavior is a natural result of extraction of "observable" information about systems containing "unobservable" elements in their descriptions. Since our aim is physics where the choice between finite and infinite descriptions can not have any empirical consequences, we consider the problem in the finite background. Besides, there are many indications from observations - from the lepton mixing data, for example - that finite groups underly phenomena in particle physics at the deep level. The "finite" approach allows to reduce any quantum dynamics to the simple permutation dynamics, and thus to express quantum observables in terms of permutation invariants of symmetry groups and their integer characteristics such as sizes of conjugate classes, sizes of group orbits, class coefficients, dimensions of representations. Our study has been accompanied by computations with finite groups, their representations and invariants. We have used both our C implementation of algorithms for working with groups and computer algebra system GAP.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1106.2759

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Mathematical core of quantum mechanics is the theory of unitary representations of symmetries of physical systems. We argue that quantum behavior is a natural result of extraction of "observable" information about systems containing "unobservable" elements in their descriptions. Since our aim is physics where the choice between finite and infinite descriptions can not have any empirical consequences, we consider the problem in the finite background. Besides, there are many indications from observations - from the lepton mixing data, for example - that finite groups underly phenomena in particle physics at the deep level. The "finite" approach allows to reduce any quantum dynamics to the simple permutation dynamics, and thus to express quantum observables in terms of permutation invariants of symmetry groups and their integer characteristics such as sizes of conjugate classes, sizes of group orbits, class coefficients, dimensions of representations. Our study has been accompanied by computations with finite groups, their representations and invariants. We have used both our C implementation of algorithms for working with groups and computer algebra system GAP.
We consider the problem of quantum behavior in the finite background. Introduction of continuum or other infinities into physics leads only to technical complications without any need for them in description of empirical observations. The finite approach makes the problem constructive and more tractable. We argue that quantum behavior is a natural consequence of symmetries of dynamical systems. It is a result of fundamental impossibility to trace identity of indistinguishable objects in their evolution - only information about invariant combinations of such objects is available. We demonstrate that any quantum dynamics can be embedded into a simple permutation dynamics. Quantum phenomena, such as interferences, arise in invariant subspaces of permutation representations of the symmetry group of a system. Observable quantities can be expressed in terms of the permutation invariants.
Concepts of quantum theory are considered from the constructive “finite” point of view. The introduction of a continuum or other actual infinities in physics destroys constructiveness without any need for them in describing empirical observations. It is shown that quantum behavior is a natural consequence of symmetries of dynamical systems. The underlying reason is that it is impossible in principle to trace the identity of indistinguishable objects in their evolution—only information about invariant statements and values concerning such objects is available. General mathematical arguments indicate that any quantum dynamics is reducible to a sequence of permutations. Quantum phenomena, such as interference, arise in invariant subspaces of permutation representations of the symmetry group of a dynamical system. Observable quantities can be expressed in terms of permutation invariants. It is shown that nonconstructive number systems, such as complex numbers, are not needed for describing quantum phenomena. It is sufficient to employ cyclotomic numbers—a minimal extension of natural numbers that is appropriate for quantum mechanics. The use of finite groups in physics, which underlies the present approach, has an additional motivation. Numerous experiments and observations in the particle physics suggest the importance of finite groups of relatively small orders in some fundamental processes. The origin of these groups is unclear within the currently accepted theories—in particular, within the Standard Model.
We study quantum behavior from a constructive "finite" point of view, since the introduction of continuum or other actual infinities into physics poses serious conceptual and technical difficulties without any need for these concepts in physics as an empirical science. Taking this approach, we can show that the quantum-mechanical problems can be formulated in the invariant subspaces of permutation representations of finite groups, while the quantum interferences occur as phenomena that are observable in these subspaces. The scalar products in the invariant subspaces (which are needed for formulating the Born rule – the main postulate of quantum mechanics that links mathematical description with experiment) are linear combinations of independent bilinear invariant forms of the permutation representation. A complete set of such forms for any permutation group can be easily calculated by a simple algorithm. Slightly more sophisticated algorithms are required for expressing quantum observables in terms of these forms.
Concepts of quantum theory are considered from the constructive point of view. The introduction of a continuum or other actual infinities in physics destroys constructiveness without any need for them in describing empirical observations. It is shown that quantum behavior is a natural consequence of symmetries of dynamical systems. The underlying reason is that it is impossible in principle to trace the identity of indistinguishable objects in their evolution—only information about invariant statements and values concerning such objects is available. General mathematical arguments indicate that any quantum dynamics is reducible to a sequence of permutations. Quantum phenomena, such as interference, arise in invariant subspaces of permutation representations of the symmetry group of a dynamical system. Observable quantities can be expressed in terms of permutation invariants. It is shown that nonconstructive number systems, such as complex numbers, are not needed for describing quantum phenomena. It is sufficient to employ cyclotomic numbers—a minimal extension of natural numbers that is appropriate for quantum mechanics. The use of finite groups in physics, which underlies the present approach, has an additional motivation. Numerous experiments and observations in the particle physics suggest the importance of finite groups of relatively small orders in some fundamental processes. The origin of these groups is unclear within the currently accepted theories—in particular, within the Standard Model.
Quantum-mechanical concepts can be formulated in constructive finite terms without loss of their empirical content if we replace a general unitary group by a unitary representation of a finite group. Any linear representation of a finite group can be realized as a subrepresentation of a permutation representation. Thus, quantum-mechanical problems can be expressed in terms of permutation groups. This approach allows us to clarify the meaning of a number of physical concepts. Combining methods of computational group theory with Monte Carlo simulation we study a model based on representations of permutation groups.
Understanding the dynamical properties of quantum systems is an essential task in quantum computing, quantum control, and many-body physics. Tools such as representation theory and Lie theory provide crucial information on reachability and computational power. However, this information can be difficult to access exactly or compute efficiently for arbitrary generating sets. Here we focus on the setting of Pauli strings, which satisfy numerous exceptional properties that simplify the problem. We find deep connections between Pauli Lie algebras and certain subgroups of the Clifford group generated by transvections, through the symplectic properties of the Pauli strings. This allows us to give an invariant-based perspective on these objects and their reachability, in the language of Pauli orbits, symmetries, and invariant subspaces. The invariant-based approach provides efficient algorithms for identifying Lie algebras and orbits, as well as a simple framework for analyzing structured Pauli generating sets. We also show in an elementary way that Clifford subgroups generated by transvections provide 3-designs for the corresponding Pauli Lie groups. We illustrate the framework through structured examples from variational quantum algorithms, restricted quantum computation, many-body systems, and random circuits.