Motivated by the sharp contrast between classical and quantum physics as probability theories, in these lecture notes I introduce the basic notions of operator algebras that are relevant for the algebraic approach to quantum physics. Aspects of the representation theory of C*-algebras will be motivated and illustrated in physical terms. Particular emphasis will be given to explicit examples from the theory of quantum phase transitions, where concepts coming from strands as diverse as quantum information theory, algebraic quantum physics and statistical mechanics agreeably converge, providing a more complete picture of the physical phenomena involved.
Motivated by the sharp contrast between classical and quantum physics as probability theories, in these lecture notes I introduce the basic notions of operator algebras that are relevant for the algebraic approach to quantum physics. Aspects of the representation theory of C*-algebras will be motivated and illustrated in physical terms. Particular emphasis will be given to explicit examples from the theory of quantum phase transitions, where concepts coming from strands as diverse as quantum information theory, algebraic quantum physics and statistical mechanics agreeably converge, providing a more complete picture of the physical phenomena involved.
These notes offer a basic introduction to the primary mathematical concepts of quantum physics, and their physical significance, from the operator and Hilbert space point of view, highlighting more what are essentially the abstract algebraic aspects of quantisation in contrast to more standard treatments of such issues, while also bridging towards the path integral formulation of quantisation. A discussion of the (first) Noether theorem and Lie symmetries is also included to complement the presentation. Emphasis is put throughout, as illustrative examples threading the presentation, on the quantum harmonic oscillator and the dynamics of a charged particle coupled to the electromagnetic field, with the ambition to bring the reader onto the threshold of relativistic quantum field theories with their local gauge invariances as a natural framework for describing relativistic quantum particles in interaction and carrying specific conserved charges.
The main goal of these notes is to give an introduction to the mathematics of quantum noise and some of its applications in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. We start with some reminders from the theory of classical stochastic processes. We then provide a brief overview of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, from the viewpoint of quantum probability and adopting the language of Hudson and Parthasarathy. We introduce quantum stochastic processes on a boson Fock space and their calculus. Whenever possible, we make connections with the relevant concepts in classical probability theory. As an application of the theory, we introduce the theory of open quantum systems, with emphasis on the physics and modeling aspects of these systems.
The first volume (General Theory) differs from most textbooks as it emphasizes the mathematical structure and mathematical rigor, while being adapted to the teaching the first semester of an advanced course in Quantum Mechanics (the content of the book are the lectures of courses actually delivered.). It differs also from the very few texts in Quantum Mechanics that give emphasis to the mathematical aspects because this book, being written as Lecture Notes, has the structure of lectures delivered in a course, namely introduction of the problem, outline of the relevant points, mathematical tools needed, theorems, proofs. This makes this book particularly useful for self-study and for instructors in the preparation of a second course in Quantum Mechanics (after a first basic course). With some minor additions it can be used also as a basis of a first course in Quantum Mechanics for students in mathematics curricula. The second part (Selected Topics) are lecture notes of a more advanced course aimed at giving the basic notions necessary to do research in several areas of mathematical physics connected with quantum mechanics, from solid state to singular interactions, many body theory, semi-classical analysis, quantum statistical mechanics. The structure of this book is suitable for a second-semester course, in which the lectures are meant to provide, in addition to theorems and proofs, an overview of a more specific subject and hints to the direction of research. In this respect and for the width of subjects this second volume differs from other monographs on Quantum Mechanics. The second volume can be useful for students who want to have a basic preparation for doing research and for instructors who may want to use it as a basis for the presentation of selected topics.
We presents a unified and concise exposition of key topics in the mathematical theory of open quantum systems, developed within the framework of operator algebras. The manuscript consolidates and extends a series of invited articles originally prepared for the Modern Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics, combining foundational material with modern perspectives on non-equilibrium quantum statistical mechanics. After introducing the C*- and W*-algebraic formulation of quantum mechanics, the paper reviews quantum dynamical systems, KMS states, and Tomita-Takesaki modular theory, as well as CCR and CAR algebras for bosonic and fermionic systems. Particular emphasis is placed on infinite systems, non-equilibrium steady states, entropy production, and linear response theory. The later sections develop a systematic treatment of small systems coupled to reservoirs, open lattice quantum spin systems, culminating in a detailed discussion of competing notions of quantum entropy production. The presentation highlights structural insights, conceptual clarity, and connections between equilibrium and non-equilibrium phenomena, providing a self-contained reference for researchers and graduate students in mathematical physics.
Abstract Quantum information science is a new and rapidly developing discipline that studies the general laws governing the transmission, storage, and processing of information in systems that obey the laws of quantum mechanics. It makes extensive use of matrix theory and operator theory on Hilbert spaces to investigate the capabilities of such systems and to develop principles for their rational design. An important consequence of the development of quantum information science is a substantial clarification of the logical structure and foundations of quantum mechanics and of its relation to reality. These lectures are devoted to the foundations of the mathematical theory of quantum systems: states, observables, communication channels, their entropic and information characteristics, and quantum information-processing protocols. The lectures provide a detailed introduction to the statistical structure of quantum theory and the necessary background from classical information theory; hence, knowledge of the basic mathematical subjects—analysis, linear algebra, and probability theory—is sufficient for understanding the material. In the first part of the course, we use the “standard” statistical model of a quantum system, but consider it in comparison with the classical statistical description. A consistent development of this approach leads to a generalized statistical model of quantum mechanics, in which observables (in general, “unsharp”) are described by probability operator-valued measures, while evolutions (in general, irreversible) are described by completely positive maps. Introductory material on these concepts, which underlie mathematical models of quantum information systems in the presence of noise and errors and have numerous applications in quantum information science, is presented in the second part of the course.
Abstract This chapter develops the fundamental notions and concepts of the probabilistic and statistical interpretation of quantum mechanics. It begins with a brief review of the mathematical structure given by a Hilbert space of state vectors and an algebra of observables represented by selfadjoint operators. Special emphasis is laid on the connection between the spectral representation of a selfadjoint operator and a corresponding random variable that describes the possible measurement outcomes. The chapter further introduces the concepts of a composite quantum system, of the reduced density matrix, and of entangled quantum states. A section on quantum entropies is included, as well as the mathematical formulation of the generalized theory of quantum measurements in terms of completely positive quantum operations and effects.