Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1702.03157

Preserver problems for the logics associated to Hilbert spaces and related Grassmannians

Mark Pankov

Published Feb 10, 2017• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We consider the standard quantum logic ${\mathcal L}(H)$ associated to a complex Hilbert space $H$, i.e. the lattice of closed subspaces of $H$ together with the orthogonal complementation. The orthogonality and compatibility relations are defined for any logic. In the standard quantum logic, they have a simple interpretation in terms of operator theory. For example, two closed subspaces (propositions in the logic ${\mathcal L}(H)$) are compatible if and only if the projections on these subspaces commute. We present both classical and more resent results on transformations of ${\mathcal L}(H)$ and the associated Grassmannians which preserve the orthogonality or compatibility relation. The first result in this direction was classical Wigner's theorem.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1702.03157

Related papers

Orthogonal apartments in Hilbert Grassmannians

Mark Pankov

Let $H$ be an infinite-dimensional complex Hilbert space and let ${\mathcal L}(H)$ be the logic formed by all closed subspaces of $H$. For every natural $k$ we denote by ${\mathcal G}_{k}(H)$ the Grassmannian consisting of $k$-dimensional subspaces. An orthogonal apartment of ${\mathcal G}_{k}(H)$ is the set consisting of all $k$-dimensional subspaces spanned by subsets of a certain orthogonal base of $H$. Orthogonal apartments can be characterized as maximal sets of mutually compatible elements of ${\mathcal G}_{k}(H)$. We show that every bijective transformation $f$ of ${\mathcal G}_{k}(H)$ such that $f$ and $f^{-1}$ send orthogonal apartments to orthogonal apartments (in other words, $f$ preserves the compatibility relation in both directions) can be uniquely extended to an automorphism of ${\mathcal L}(H)$.

arXiv:1512.01007•Dec 3, 2015•0 citations

Wigner-Type Theorems for Hilbert Grassmannians

Mark Pankov

Wigner's theorem is a fundamental part of the mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics. The theorem characterizes unitary and anti-unitary operators as symmetries of quantum mechanical systems, and is a key result when relating preserver problems to quantum mechanics. At the heart of this book is a geometric approach to Wigner-type theorems, unifying both classical and more recent results. Readers are initiated in a wide range of topics from geometric transformations of Grassmannians to lattices of closed subspaces, before moving on to a discussion of applications. An introduction to all the key aspects of the basic theory is included as are plenty of examples, making this book a useful resource for beginning graduate students and non-experts, as well as a helpful reference for specialist researchers.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Jan 6, 2020•23 citations

Systems of quantum logic

R I G Hughes

According to quantum mechanics, the pure states of a microsystem are represented by vectors in a Hilbert Space. Sentences of the form, "x є L" (where x is the state vector for a system, L a subspace of the appropriate Hilbert space), may be called Q-propositions: such sentences serve to summarise our information about the results of possible experiments on the system. Quantum logic investigates the relations which hold among the Q-propositions about a given physical sys tem. These logical relations correspond to algebraic relations among the subspaces of Hilbert space. The algebra of this set of subspaces is non-Boolean, and may be regarded either as an orthomodular lattice or as a partial Boolean algebra. With each type of structure we can associate a logic. A general approach to the semantics for such a logic is provided in terms of interpretations of a formal language within an algebraic structure; an interpretation maps sentences of the language homomorphically onto elements of the structure. When the structure in question is a Boolean algera, the resulting logic is classical; here we develop a semantics for the logic associated with partial Boolean algebras. Two systems of proof, based on the natural deduction systems of Gentzen, are shown for this logic. With respect to the given sematics, these calculi are sound and weakly complete. Strong completeness is conjectured. Quantum logic deals with the logical relations between sentences, and so is properly called a logic. However, it is the logic appropriate to a limited class of sentences: proposals that it should replace classical logic wherever the latter is used should be viewed with suspicion.

•Jan 1, 2010•0 citations

A geometric approach to Wigner‐type theorems

Mark Pankov, Thomas Vetterlein

Let H be a complex Hilbert space and let P ( H ) be the associated projective space (the set of rank-one projections). Suppose dim H ⩾ 3 . We prove the following Wigner-type theorem: if H is finite dimensional, then every orthogonality preserving transformation of P ( H ) is induced by a unitary or anti-unitary operator. This statement will be obtained as a consequence of the following result: every orthogonality preserving lineation of P ( H ) to itself is induced by a linear or conjugate-linear isometry ( H is not assumed to be finite-dimensional). As an application, we describe (not necessarily injective) transformations of Grassmannians preserving some types of principal angles.

arXiv:2012.02063•Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society•May 16, 2021•5 citations

Wigner’s Theorem and Its Generalizations

Mark Pankov

Classical Wigner’s theorem characterizes unitary and anti-unitary operators as symmetries of pure states of quantum mechanical systems, i.e. rank one projections. We consider a non-injective version of Wigner’s theorem as well as Uhlhorn’s version concerning orthogonality preserving transformations and describe various extensions of these results onto other Grassmannians.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Jan 6, 2020•0 citations

Wigner's theorem for an infinite set

John Harding

Abstract It is well known that the closed subspaces of a Hilbert space form an orthomodular lattice. Elements of this orthomodular lattice are the propositions of a quantum mechanical system represented by the Hilbert space, and by Gleason’s theorem atoms of this orthomodular lattice correspond to pure states of the system. Wigner’s theorem says that the automorphism group of this orthomodular lattice corresponds to the group of unitary and anti-unitary operators of the Hilbert space. This result is of basic importance in the use of group representations in quantum mechanics. The closed subspaces A of a Hilbert space H ${\mathcal H}$ correspond to direct product decompositions H ≃ A × A ⊥ $\mathcal{H}\simeq A\times A^\perp$ of the Hilbert space, a result that lies at the heart of the superposition principle. In [10] it was shown that the direct product decompositions of any set, group, vector space, and topological space form an orthomodular poset. This is the basis for a line of study in foundational quantum mechanics replacing Hilbert spaces with other types of structures. It is the purpose of this note to prove a version of Wigner’s theorem: for an infinite set X, the automorphism group of the orthomodular poset Fact(X) of direct product decompositions of X is isomorphic to the permutation group of X. The structure Fact(X) plays the role for direct product decompositions of a set that the lattice of equivalence relations plays for surjective images of a set. So determining its automorphism group is of interest independent of its application to quantum mechanics. Other properties of Fact(X) are determined in proving our version of Wigner’s theorem, namely that Fact(X) is atomistic in a very strong way.

arXiv:1604.06973•Mathematica Slovaca•Oct 1, 2018•3 citations
We consider the standard quantum logic L(H){\mathcal L}(H)L(H) associated to a complex Hilbert space HHH, i.e. the lattice of closed subspaces of HHH together with the orthogonal complementation. The orthogonality and compatibility relations are defined for any logic. In the standard quantum logic, they have a simple interpretation in terms of operator theory. For example, two closed subspaces (propositions in the logic L(H){\mathcal L}(H)L(H)) are compatible if and only if the projections on these subspaces commute. We present both classical and more resent results on transformations of L(H){\mathcal L}(H)L(H) and the associated Grassmannians which preserve the orthogonality or compatibility relation. The first result in this direction was classical Wigner's theorem.
Let HHH be an infinite-dimensional complex Hilbert space and let L(H){\mathcal L}(H)L(H) be the logic formed by all closed subspaces of HHH. For every natural kkk we denote by Gk(H){\mathcal G}_{k}(H)Gk​(H) the Grassmannian consisting of kkk-dimensional subspaces. An orthogonal apartment of Gk(H){\mathcal G}_{k}(H)Gk​(H) is the set consisting of all kkk-dimensional subspaces spanned by subsets of a certain orthogonal base of HHH. Orthogonal apartments can be characterized as maximal sets of mutually compatible elements of Gk(H){\mathcal G}_{k}(H)Gk​(H). We show that every bijective transformation fff of Gk(H){\mathcal G}_{k}(H)Gk​(H) such that fff and f−1f^{-1}f−1 send orthogonal apartments to orthogonal apartments (in other words, fff preserves the compatibility relation in both directions) can be uniquely extended to an automorphism of L(H){\mathcal L}(H)L(H).
Wigner's theorem is a fundamental part of the mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics. The theorem characterizes unitary and anti-unitary operators as symmetries of quantum mechanical systems, and is a key result when relating preserver problems to quantum mechanics. At the heart of this book is a geometric approach to Wigner-type theorems, unifying both classical and more recent results. Readers are initiated in a wide range of topics from geometric transformations of Grassmannians to lattices of closed subspaces, before moving on to a discussion of applications. An introduction to all the key aspects of the basic theory is included as are plenty of examples, making this book a useful resource for beginning graduate students and non-experts, as well as a helpful reference for specialist researchers.
According to quantum mechanics, the pure states of a microsystem are represented by vectors in a Hilbert Space. Sentences of the form, "x є L" (where x is the state vector for a system, L a subspace of the appropriate Hilbert space), may be called Q-propositions: such sentences serve to summarise our information about the results of possible experiments on the system. Quantum logic investigates the relations which hold among the Q-propositions about a given physical sys tem. These logical relations correspond to algebraic relations among the subspaces of Hilbert space. The algebra of this set of subspaces is non-Boolean, and may be regarded either as an orthomodular lattice or as a partial Boolean algebra. With each type of structure we can associate a logic. A general approach to the semantics for such a logic is provided in terms of interpretations of a formal language within an algebraic structure; an interpretation maps sentences of the language homomorphically onto elements of the structure. When the structure in question is a Boolean algera, the resulting logic is classical; here we develop a semantics for the logic associated with partial Boolean algebras. Two systems of proof, based on the natural deduction systems of Gentzen, are shown for this logic. With respect to the given sematics, these calculi are sound and weakly complete. Strong completeness is conjectured. Quantum logic deals with the logical relations between sentences, and so is properly called a logic. However, it is the logic appropriate to a limited class of sentences: proposals that it should replace classical logic wherever the latter is used should be viewed with suspicion.
Let H be a complex Hilbert space and let P ( H ) be the associated projective space (the set of rank-one projections). Suppose dim H ⩾ 3 . We prove the following Wigner-type theorem: if H is finite dimensional, then every orthogonality preserving transformation of P ( H ) is induced by a unitary or anti-unitary operator. This statement will be obtained as a consequence of the following result: every orthogonality preserving lineation of P ( H ) to itself is induced by a linear or conjugate-linear isometry ( H is not assumed to be finite-dimensional). As an application, we describe (not necessarily injective) transformations of Grassmannians preserving some types of principal angles.
Abstract It is well known that the closed subspaces of a Hilbert space form an orthomodular lattice. Elements of this orthomodular lattice are the propositions of a quantum mechanical system represented by the Hilbert space, and by Gleason’s theorem atoms of this orthomodular lattice correspond to pure states of the system. Wigner’s theorem says that the automorphism group of this orthomodular lattice corresponds to the group of unitary and anti-unitary operators of the Hilbert space. This result is of basic importance in the use of group representations in quantum mechanics. The closed subspaces A of a Hilbert space H H{\mathcal H}H correspond to direct product decompositions H ≃ A × A ⊥ H≃A×A⊥\mathcal{H}\simeq A\times A^\perpH≃A×A⊥ of the Hilbert space, a result that lies at the heart of the superposition principle. In [10] it was shown that the direct product decompositions of any set, group, vector space, and topological space form an orthomodular poset. This is the basis for a line of study in foundational quantum mechanics replacing Hilbert spaces with other types of structures. It is the purpose of this note to prove a version of Wigner’s theorem: for an infinite set X, the automorphism group of the orthomodular poset Fact(X) of direct product decompositions of X is isomorphic to the permutation group of X. The structure Fact(X) plays the role for direct product decompositions of a set that the lattice of equivalence relations plays for surjective images of a set. So determining its automorphism group is of interest independent of its application to quantum mechanics. Other properties of Fact(X) are determined in proving our version of Wigner’s theorem, namely that Fact(X) is atomistic in a very strong way.