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arXiv:1211.3847 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

A note on the relationship between localization and the norm-1 property

Roberto Beneduci, F E Schroeck

Published Jul 10, 2013• 7 citations
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Abstract

This paper focuses on the problem of localization in quantum mechanics. It is well known that it is not possible to define a localization observable for the photon by means of projection-valued measures, or conversely, that it is possible by using positive operator-valued measures. On the other hand, projection-valued measures imply a kind of localization which is stronger than that implied by positive operator-valued measures. It has been claimed that the norm-1 property would in some sense reduce the gap between the two kinds of localizations. We give a necessary condition for the norm-1 property and show that it is not satisfied by several important localization observables.

DOI
10.1088/1751-8113/46/30/305303

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This paper focuses on the problem of localization in quantum mechanics. It is well known that it is not possible to define a localization observable for the photon by means of projection-valued measures, or conversely, that it is possible by using positive operator-valued measures. On the other hand, projection-valued measures imply a kind of localization which is stronger than that implied by positive operator-valued measures. It has been claimed that the norm-1 property would in some sense reduce the gap between the two kinds of localizations. We give a necessary condition for the norm-1 property and show that it is not satisfied by several important localization observables.
The present paper deals with the quantum coordinates of an event in space-time, specified by a quantum object. It is known that these observables cannot be described by self-adjoint operators or by the corresponding spectral projection-valued measure. We describe them by means of a positive-operator-valued (POV) measure in the Minkowski space-time, satisfying a suitable covariance condition with respect to the Poincar\'e group. This POV measure determines the probability that a measurement of the coordinates of the event gives results belonging to a given set in space-time. We show that this measure must vanish on the vacuum and the one-particle states, which cannot define any event. We give a general expression for the Poincar\'e covariant POV measures. We define the baricentric events, which lie on the world line of the center of mass, and we find a simple expression for the average values of their coordinates. Finally, we discuss the conditions which permit the determination of the coordinates with an arbitrary accuracy.
The present dissertation focuses on the analysis of the mathematical structure of the Positive Operator Valued Measures (POVM) and their relevance to quantum mechanics. In particular we analyze: 1. The relationships between POVMs and PVMs (Projection Valued Measures) and prove that each commutative POVM F is the smearing (realized by a Feller Markov Kernel) of a spectral measure. That suggests an interpretation of commutative POVMs as the randomization of real PVMs. Moreover, we characterize the POVMs whose smearing can be realized by strong Feller Markov kernels. 2. The relationships between the characterization of commutative POVMs in item 1) and Naimark's dilation theorem. We prove that the self-adjoint operator A corresponding to the spectral measure E, of which F is the smearing, is the projection of a Naimark operator. 3. Analysis of the informational content of a POVM. We introduce an equivalence relation on the set of observables which we compare with other well known equivalence relations and prove that it is the only one for which E is always equivalent to F. 4. The uniform continuity of a POVM and its relevance to the problem of localization. We take into consideration a non-commutative POVM defined on a locally compact second countable Haussdorf topological space and give necessary and sufficient conditions for it to be uniformly continuous. Moreover, we show the relevance of this result to relativistic quantum mechanics.
We construct a covariant representation of the causal logic for the Dirac system and the electron, based on the conserved Dirac probability current and a general current-to-localization procedure for achronal regions. A polynomial decay estimate, derived by a non-stationary phase argument, verifies the conditions required to define covariant achronal localization for the full Dirac system. Extending this localization to complete spacetime regions yields the corresponding causal-logic representation; restriction to the positive-energy invariant subspace gives the analogous construction for the electron. We establish several structural properties. On Euclidean space, Dirac localization agrees with canonical projection-valued localization, while its position operator differs from the Newton--Wigner operator by an explicitly determined bounded self-adjoint correction. Full Dirac achronal localization is projection valued and represents achronal separateness by orthogonality, thus satisfying microscopic causality. After compression to the electron subspace, it becomes positive-operator valued while preserving causality. We further extend known results from spatial to general achronal regions, prove separation and norm-one criteria, and analyze the high-boost limit, obtaining Lorentz contraction in a precise probabilistic sense. Finally, we discuss the electron--positron decomposition and the state transformation induced by position measurements, showing that measurement-induced positron production is universal and independent of the specific measuring device.