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Algebraic methods in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory

Gérard G. Emch

Published Jan 1, 1972• 703 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

This systematic algebraic approach concerns problems involving a large number of degrees of freedom. It extends the traditional formalism of quantum mechanics, and it eliminates conceptual and mathematical difficulties common to the development of statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Further, the approach is linked to research in applied and pure mathematics, offering a reflection of the interplay between formulation of physical motivations and self-contained descriptions of the mathematical methods.The four-part treatment begins with a survey of algebraic approaches to certain phys

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This systematic algebraic approach concerns problems involving a large number of degrees of freedom. It extends the traditional formalism of quantum mechanics, and it eliminates conceptual and mathematical difficulties common to the development of statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Further, the approach is linked to research in applied and pure mathematics, offering a reflection of the interplay between formulation of physical motivations and self-contained descriptions of the mathematical methods.The four-part treatment begins with a survey of algebraic approaches to certain phys
Forty years ago, Haag and Kastler [27] introduced the algebraic approach to Quantum Field Theory, and soon their method was extended to statistical mechanics. The rationale was to free the theory from particular realizations, linked to specific models, and to focus on the basic structure, namely, the algebra of observables and states on it. This more abstract language, exploiting the deep mathematical theories of C*-algebras and von Neumann algebras, soon became the standard approach to the mathematically rigorous description of physical systems with infinitely many degrees of freedom. Textbooks flourished and, among many authors, Gérard Emch argued forcefully for the new approach [6].
This book presents a concise introduction to the mathematical structure of quantum mechanics from the perspective of operator algebras for systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom. It begins with a review of the mathematical tools required throughout the text, followed by an exposition of the standard Schrödinger formulation based on the Dirac–von Neumann axioms. The operator algebraic formulation is then developed from a set of physically motivated principles, providing an alternative and conceptually transparent description of quantum systems. The book concludes with an application comparing the standard and operator algebraic formalisms. Written in Spanish, this book is intended primarily for Spanish-speaking undergraduate and graduate students in physics, mathematics, and mathematical physics, aiming to provide accessible access to modern mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics.
This work develops a conceptual framework for the foundations of quantum physics, linking two main approaches: the algebraic formulation and quantum probability. Rather than proposing new axioms or theories, the text reorganizes and synthesizes existing models, highlighting their assumptions, conceptual structures, and operational significance. The analysis begins with von Neumann's measurement theory and its subsequent developments by Mackey, emphasizing the role of experimentally feasible procedures and the need for a statistical model grounded in laboratory practice. The work adopts an operational perspective, according to which physical quantities are defined solely through experimental measurement methods, and the corresponding probabilistic measures are derived from measurement outcomes. The introduction critically examines the limitations of purely mathematical formulations - such as the algebraic method - when separated from experimental interpretation. The text argues for a clear distinction between axioms, postulates, and presuppositions, and for a reconstruction of quantum theory that respects both empirical constraints and conceptual clarity. Overall, the goal is to provide a coherent path from operational principles to algebraic structures, offering a basis for an axiomatic reformulation of quantum mechanics that remains faithful to physical practice.
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.