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arXiv:1803.04916

On non-commutativity in quantum theory (II): toy models for non-commutative kinematics

Luca Curcuraci

Published Mar 13, 2018• 1 citation
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Abstract

In this article, we continue our investigation on the role of non-commutativity in quantum theory. Using the method explained in "On non-commutativity in quantum theory (I): from classical to quantum probability", we analyze two toy models which exhibit non-commutativity between the corresponding position and velocity random variables. In particular, using ordinary probability theory, we study the kinematics of a point-like particle jumping at random over a discrete random space. We show that, after the removal of the random space from the model, the position and velocity of the particle do not commute, when represented as operators on the same Hilbert space.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1803.04916

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In this article, we continue our investigation on the role of non-commutativity in quantum theory. Using the method explained in "On non-commutativity in quantum theory (I): from classical to quantum probability", we analyze two toy models which exhibit non-commutativity between the corresponding position and velocity random variables. In particular, using ordinary probability theory, we study the kinematics of a point-like particle jumping at random over a discrete random space. We show that, after the removal of the random space from the model, the position and velocity of the particle do not commute, when represented as operators on the same Hilbert space.
The thesis is about the peculiar probabilistic structure of quantum mechanics. Typically, a random phenomenon is described using the measure-theoretic formulation of probability theory. Such a description can also be done using algebraic methods, which are capable to deal with non-commutative random variables. A central feature of quantum mechanics is the non-commutativity of operators used to describe physical observables. A method to construct a non-commutative probability theory starting from an ordinary measure-theoretic description of probability is proposed and applied to a series of model to reobtain the quantum behaviour od a particle. In particular, using ordinary probability theory, the kinematics of a point-like particle jumping at random over a discrete random space is studied. After the removal of the random space from the model, the position and velocity of the particle do not commute, when represented as operators on the same Hilbert space. Using a suitable random process for the space one is able to recover non-relativistic quantum mechanics in a suitable limit.
A central feature of quantum mechanics is the non-commutativity of operators used to describe physical observables. In this article, we present a critical analysis on the role of non-commutativity in quantum theory, focusing on its consequences in the probabilistic description. Typically, a random phenomenon is described using the measure-theoretic formulation of probability theory. Such a description can also be done using algebraic methods, which are capable to deal with non-commutative random variables (like in quantum mechanics). Here we propose a method to construct a non-commutative probability theory starting from an ordinary measure-theoretic description of probability. This will be done using the entropic uncertainty relations between random variables, in order to evaluate the presence of non-commutativity in their algebraic description.
This article concludes our critical analysis on the role of non-commutativity in quantum theory. After a brief introduction of the necessary notions on point processes, we re-analyse model B proposed in "On non-commutativity in quantum theory (II): toy models for non-commutative kinematics", using the point process theory. This viewpoint allows to generalize and modify the space process of model B in a simple manner, obtaining a new model (model C). This new model allows the recovery of non-relativistic quantum mechanics in a suitable limit.
The classical limit of two quantum mechanical oscillators on a non-commutative configuration space has been recently studied based on the anti-Wick quantization scheme which makes use of completely positive maps constructed by means of coherent states. The limits corresponding to the removal of configuration-space non-commutativity and position-momentum non-commutativity do not commute. While reducing to a commutative configuration-space and then to classical position and momentum yields a classical theory on a 444-dimensional phase-space, the inverted sequence of limits does instead provide a classical theory on a 222-dimensional phase-space. Moreover, if the free dynamics of the two non-commutative quantum oscillators is also taken into account, in the first case one again obtains the dynamics of two classical free oscillators dynamics; instead, in the second case, one loses completely track of the dynamics and reduces to a purely kinematical 111-dimensional description. We herewith explain these results by examining the fate of the phase-space localisation properties of the Wigner functions of coherent states under the various limits.
These are the notes written for the talk given at the workshop Rethinking foundations of physics 2016. In section 2, a derivation of the the quantum formalism starting from propositional calculus (quantum logic) is reviewed, pointing out which are the basic requirements that lead to the use of Hilbert spaces. In section 3, a similar analysis is done following for the reconstruction of quantum theory using an operational approach. In both cases, non-commutativity plays a crucial role. Finally, in section 4a toy model which try to motivate non-commutativity is proposed. Despite this last section is interesting to read, the analysis performed there is not complete. This toy model will be re-formulated in a rigorous way (and extended) in future works.