Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the volume operator, associated with the symmetric coupling of three SU (2) angular momentum operators, can be analyzed on the basis of a discrete Schrödinger–like equation which provides a semiclassical Hamiltonian picture of the evolution of a 'quantum of space', as shown by the authors in [1]. Emphasis is given here to the formalization in terms of a quadratic symmetry algebra and its automorphism group. This view is related to the Askey scheme, the hierarchical structure which includes all hypergeometric polynomials of one (discrete or continuous) variable. Key tool for this comparative analysis is the duality operation defined on the generators of the quadratic algebra and suitably extended to the various families of overlap functions (generalized recoupling coefficients). These families, recognized as lying at the top level of the Askey scheme, are classified and a few limiting cases are addressed.
Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the volume operator, associated with the symmetric coupling of three SU (2) angular momentum operators, can be analyzed on the basis of a discrete Schrödinger–like equation which provides a semiclassical Hamiltonian picture of the evolution of a 'quantum of space', as shown by the authors in [1]. Emphasis is given here to the formalization in terms of a quadratic symmetry algebra and its automorphism group. This view is related to the Askey scheme, the hierarchical structure which includes all hypergeometric polynomials of one (discrete or continuous) variable. Key tool for this comparative analysis is the duality operation defined on the generators of the quadratic algebra and suitably extended to the various families of overlap functions (generalized recoupling coefficients). These families, recognized as lying at the top level of the Askey scheme, are classified and a few limiting cases are addressed.
The mathematical apparatus of quantum-mechanical angular momentum (re)coupling, developed originally to describe spectroscopic phenomena in atomic, molecular, optical and nuclear physics, is embedded in modern algebraic settings which emphasize the underlying combinatorial aspects. SU (2) recoupling theory, involving Wigner's 3 nj symbols, as well as the related problems of their calculations, general properties, asymptotic limits for large entries, nowadays plays a prominent role also in quantum gravity and quantum computing applications. We refer to the ingredients of this theory—and of its extension to other Lie and quantum groups—by using the collective term of 'spin networks'. Recent progress is recorded about the already established connections with the mathematical theory of discrete orthogonal polynomials (the so-called Askey scheme), providing powerful tools based on asymptotic expansions, which correspond on the physical side to various levels of semi-classical limits. These results are useful not only in theoretical molecular physics but also in motivating algorithms for the computationally demanding problems of molecular dynamics and chemical reaction theory, where large angular momenta are typically involved. As for quantum chemistry, applications of these techniques include selection and classification of complete orthogonal basis sets in atomic and molecular problems, either in configuration space (Sturmian orbitals) or in momentum space. In this paper, we list and discuss some aspects of these developments—such as for instance the hyperquantization algorithm—as well as a few applications to quantum gravity and topology, thus providing evidence of a unifying background structure.
The Wilson and Racah polynomials can be characterized as basis functions for irreducible representations of the quadratic symmetry algebra of the quantum superintegrable system on the 2-sphere, H Ψ = E Ψ, with generic 3-parameter potential. Clearly, the polynomials are expansion coefficients for one eigenbasis of a symmetry operator L 2 of H in terms of an eigenbasis of another symmetry operator L 1 , but the exact relationship appears not to have been made explicit. We work out the details of the expansion to show, explicitly, how the polynomials arise and how the principal properties of these functions: the measure, 3-term recurrence relation, 2nd order difference equation, duality of these relations, permutation symmetry, intertwining operators and an alternate derivation of Wilson functions - follow from the symmetry of this quantum system. This paper is an exercise to show that quantum mechancal concepts and recurrence relations for Gausian hypergeometrc functions alone suffice to explain these properties; we make no assumptions about the structure of Wilson polynomial/functions, but derive them from quantum principles. There is active interest in the relation between multivariable Wilson polynomials and the quantum superintegrable system on the n-sphere with generic potential, and these results should aid in the generalization. Contracting function space realizations of irreducible representations of this quadratic algebra to the other superintegrable systems one can obtain the full Askey scheme of orthogonal hypergeometric polynomials. All of these contractions of superintegrable systems with potential are uniquely induced by Wigner Lie algebra contractions of so (3, C ) and e (2, C ). All of the polynomials produced are interpretable as quantum expansion coefficients. It is important to extend this process to higher dimensions.
The action of the quantum mechanical volume operator, introduced in connection with a symmetric representation of the three-body problem and recently recognized to play a fundamental role in discretized quantum gravity models, can be given as a second order difference equation which, by a complex phase change, we turn into a discrete Schrödinger-like equation. The introduction of discrete potential-like functions reveals the surprising crucial role here of hidden symmetries, first discovered by Regge for the quantum mechanical 6j symbols; insight is provided into the underlying geometric features. The spectrum and wavefunctions of the volume operator are discussed from the viewpoint of the Hamiltonian evolution of an elementary "quantum of space", and a transparent asymptotic picture emerges of the semiclassical and classical regimes. The definition of coordinates adapted to Regge symmetry is exploited for the construction of a novel set of discrete orthogonal polynomials, characterizing the oscillatory components of torsion-like modes.
Various examples of exactly solvable ‘discrete’ quantum mechanics are explored explicitly with emphasis on shape invariance, Heisenberg operator solutions, annihilation-creation operators, the dynamical symmetry algebras and coherent states. The eigenfunctions are the (q-) Askey-scheme of hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials satisfying difference equation versions of the Schrödinger equation. Various reductions (restrictions) of the symmetry algebra of the Askey-Wilson system are explored in detail.
We use the mathematical structure of group algebras and H+-algebras for describing certain problems concerning the quantum dynamics of systems of angular momenta, including also the spin systems. The underlying groups are SU(2) and its quotient SO(3,R). The scheme developed is applied in two different contexts. Firstly, the purely group-algebraic framework is applied to the system of angular momenta of arbitrary origin, e.g., orbital angular momenta of electrons and nucleons, systems of quantized angular momenta of rotating extended objects like molecules. The other promising area of applications is Schrödinger quantum mechanics of rigid body with its often rather unexpected and very interesting features. Even within this Schrödinger framework the algebras of operators related to group algebras are a very useful tool. We investigate some problems of composed systems and the quasiclassical limit obtained as the asymptotics of "large" quantum numbers, i.e., "quickly oscillating" functions on groups. They are related in an interesting way to geometry of the coadjoint orbits of SU(2).
A quantum orthogonal polynomial transform (QOPT) is an algorithmic primitive that maps a superposition of standard basis states ∑kαk∣k⟩ coherently to a basis of normalized univariate polynomials orthogonal with respect to a probability measure μ(x). We provide new discrete and continuous QOPTs for polynomial families in the Askey scheme extending the results for the quantum Hermite transform (Jain et al., STOC'26). Our efficient QOPT algorithms require time O(polylog(N,1/ε)), where N is the grid size and ε is the error, for the discrete Charlier, Meixner and Krawtchouk transforms and for the integer-order Laguerre transform in the continuous setting. The efficient QOPTs are obtained by uncovering the links between Askey scheme polynomials and Gaussian quantum optical gates and developing a compilation framework for SU(2) and SU(1,1) optical gates on Cartesian grids extending the framework developed by Iyer et al. (arXiv:2602.15180). Further, we reduce the continuous Jacobi transform to the discrete Hahn transform and provide an O(Npolylog((N+α+β+1)/ε))-time Hahn transform, a quadratic speedup over the naive implementation. This is based on a more efficient compilation of the Clebsch--Gordan transform for coupling SU(2) representations with spins (j1,j2). Finally, we develop a new framework for Laguerre transforms for all orders ν>0 by fast-forwarding the corresponding radial oscillator using a 3-term chirp decomposition and an efficient algorithm for the Quantum Hankel Transform on a logarithmic grid.