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Birkhäuser Boston eBooks

The Quantum/Classical Interface: Insights from Clifford’s (Geometric) Algebra

W. E. Baylis

Published Jan 1, 2004• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Classical relativistic physics in Clifford algebra has a spinorial formulation that is closely related to standard quantum formalism. The algebraic use of spinors and projectors, together with the bilinear relations of spinors to observed currents, gives quantum-mechanical form to many classical results, and the clear geometric content of the algebra makes it an illuminating probe of the quantum/classical interface. This paper extends past efforts to close the conceptual gap between quantum and classical phenomena while highlighting their essential differences. The paravector representation of spacetime in Cl 3 is used in particular to provide insight into spin-1/2 systems and their measurement.

DOI
10.1007/978-1-4612-2044-2_24

Related papers

Quantum/Classical Interface: A Geometric Approach from the Classical Side

W. E. Baylis

Classical relativistic physics in Clifforďs geometric algebra has a spinorial formulation that is closely related to the standard quantum formalism. The algebraic use of spinors and projectors, together with the bilinear relations of spinors to observed currents, gives quantum-mechanical form to many classical results, and the clear geometric content of the algebra makes it an illuminating probe of the quantum/classical interface. The aim of this lecture is to close the conceptual gap between quantum and classical phenomena while highlighting their essential differences. The paravector representation of spacetime in APS is used in particular to provide insight into what many pioneering quantum physicists have considered classically indescribable: spin-1/2 systems and their measurement.

Kluwer Academic Publishers eBooks•Jan 27, 2006•14 citations

Quantum/Classical Interface: Fermion Spin

W. E. Baylis, Renán Cabrera, D. Keselica

Although intrinsic spin is usually viewed as a purely quantum property with no classical analog, we present evidence here that fermion spin has a classical origin rooted in the geometry of three-dimensional physical space. Our approach to the quantum/classical interface is based on a formulation of relativistic classical mechanics that uses spinors. Spinors and projectors arise naturally in the Clifford's geometric algebra of physical space and not only provide powerful tools for solving problems in classical electrodynamics, but also reproduce a number of quantum results. In particular, many properites of elementary fermions, as spin-1/2 particles, are obtained classically and relate spin, the associated g-factor, its coupling to an external magnetic field, and its magnetic moment to Zitterbewegung and de Broglie waves. The relationship is further strengthened by the fact that physical space and its geometric algebra can be derived from fermion annihilation and creation operators. The approach resolves Pauli's argument against treating time as an operator by recognizing phase factors as projected rotation operators.

arXiv:0710.3144•Oct 16, 2007•9 citations

Geometric algebras in physics: Eigenspinors and Dirac theory

J. D. Keselica

The foundations of quantum theory are closely tied to a formulation of classical relativistic physics. In Clifford's geometric algebra classical relativistic physics has a spinorial formulation that is closely related to the standard Dirac equation. The algebra of physical space, APS, gives clear insight into the quantum/classical interface. Here, APS is compared to other formulations of relativistic quantum theory, especially the Dirac equation. These formulations are shown to be effectively equivalent to each other and to the standard theory, as demonstrated by establishing several isomorphisms. Dirac spinors are four-component complex entities, and so must be represented by objects containing 8 real degrees of freedom in the standard treatment (or 7 if a normalization constant is added). The relation [special characters omitted]indicates that the 8-dimensional even subalgebra [special characters omitted] of the Space-time algebra, STA is isomorphic to APS Cl 3, which is isomorphic to complex quaternions [special characters omitted]. The complex quaternions should not be confused with the biquaternions, a name sometimes used for them. The biquaternions are more generally elements of the algebra [special characters omitted]. The algebras Cl1,3 and Cl 3,1 are not isomorphic but their even sub-algebras are[1]. The Klein paradox is resolved in APS by considering Feynman's picture of antiparticles as negative energy solutions traveling backward in time. It is also shown that the algebra of physical space can naturally describe an extended version of the De Broglie-Bohm approach to quantum theory. A relativistic causal account of a spin measurement in APS is given. The Stern-Gerlach magnet acts on the eigenspinor Λ field of a charged particle in a way that is analogous to the interaction of a birefringent medium acts on a beam of light. Then we introduce a covariant interpretation of complex algebra of physical space, CAPS, the complex extension of APS. This is done to solve a problem in that the space-time inversion, PT transformation, when P is parity inversion and T time reversal, although it is a proper transformation is not physical, yet, it has the form of a physical rotation in the traditional Dirac theory. The CAPS form of the PT transformation does not have the form of a physical rotation. A further problem is that the explicit form of the time inversion, T and charge conjugation, C transformations depends on the matrix representation chosen. A representation-independent form would be more fundamental. In CAPS, the complex extension of APS these problems are resolved.

•Jan 1, 2008•1 citation

The Clifford Algebra approach to Quantum Mechanics A: The Schroedinger and Pauli Particles

Basil J. Hiley, R. E. Callaghan

In this paper we show how all the quantum properties of Schroedinger and Pauli particles can be described entirely from within a Clifford algebra taken over the reals. There is no need to appeal to any `wave function'. To describe a quantum system, we define the Clifford density element [CDE] as a product of an element of a minimal left ideal and its Clifford conjugate. The properties of the system are then completely specified in terms of bilinear invariants of the first and second kind calculated using the CDE. Thus the quantum properties of a system can be completely described from within the algebra without the need to appeal to any Hilbert space representation. Furthermore we show that the essential bilinear invariants of the second kind are simply the Bohm energy and the Bohm momentum, entities that make their appearance in the Bohm interpretation. We also show how these parameters emerge from standard quantum field theory in the low energy, single particle approximation. There is no need to appeal to classical mechanics at any stage. This clearly shows that the Bohm approach is entirely within the standard quantum formalism. The method has enabled us to lay the foundations of an approach that can be extended to provide a complete relativistic version of Bohm model. In this paper we confine our attention to the details of the non-relativistic case and will present its relativistic extension in a subsequent paper.

arXiv:1011.4031•Nov 17, 2010•16 citations

Quantum Gates and Clifford Algebras

Alexander Yu. Vlasov

Clifford algebras are used for definition of spinors. Because of using spin-1/2 systems as an adequate model of quantum bit, a relation of the algebras with quantum information science has physical reasons. But there are simple mathematical properties of the algebras those also justifies such applications. First, any complex Clifford algebra with 2n generators, Cl(2n,C), has representation as algebra of all 2^n x 2^n complex matrices and so includes unitary matrix of any quantum n-gate. An arbitrary element of whole algebra corresponds to general form of linear complex transformation. The last property is also useful because linear operators are not necessary should be unitary if they used for description of restriction of some unitary operator to subspace. The second advantage is simple algebraic structure of Cl(2n) that can be expressed via tenzor product of standard "building units" and similar with behavior of composite quantum systems. The compact notation with 2n generators also can be used in software for modeling of simple quantum circuits by modern conventional computers.

arXiv:quant-ph/9907079•Jul 26, 1999•6 citations

Star products and geometric algebra

Peter Henselder

Considering physics as it is done today one notices that physics separates into two formally and conceptually different parts. There is on the one hand classical physics that deals with macroscopic phenomena and there is on the other hand quantum physics that deals with microscopic phenomena. Penrose [96] described this situation as a disturbing analogy to ancient Greece, where two different sets of laws for earth and heaven were applied. So immediately the question arises if one really has to use different formalisms on different scales or if it is possible to describe physics in a unified way. In order to investigate this question one first has to consider how classical and quantum physics are related. Quantum mechanics results from classical physics by a procedure called quantization and classical physics is reobtained by taking the classical limit. Both procedures are heavily plagued by problems [61, 100]. In the first chapter the mathematical problems of quantization will be addressed and it will be described how the star product formalism circumvents these problems. The star product formalism has the advantage that there is no formal break if one goes from classical physics to quantum physics. This formal advantage and the resulting beauty is then used as a guiding principle for the further development. The first question that arises is if the spin can be described in the star product formalism. That this is indeed possible is shown in the second chapter. As a starting point the spin description with pseudoclassical mechanics as it was developed by Berezin is used. One can then construct a fermionic star product and apply it for deformation quantization of pseudoclassical mechanics. In analogy to the bosonic star product formalism one obtains spin Wigner functions that act as spin projectors. Besides the nonrelativistic case it is also possible to formulate Dirac theory with star products. The Clifford algebra of the gamma matrices is hereby described as a deformed version of a four dimensional Grassmann algebra. The fermionic star product in combination with the bosonic Moyal product leads to a supersymmetric star product formalism that can be used to describe supersymmetric quantum mechanics and in the relativistic case to describe the supersymmetric structure of Dirac theory. The other direction of generalization of the star product formalism is the application of star products in quantum field theory that is described in chapter three. After constructing a suitable normal product it is shown that the algebraic structures of perturbative quantum field theory appear also in the star product formalism, which is an expression of the algebra morphism of the operator and the star product formalism. But moreover the quantum group structure that was recently found in perturbative quantum field theory is shown to be a natural algebraic structure of the star product. The essential advantage of deformation quantization is that the classical limit has a well defined meaning. In the context of the spin description with star products this leads to the question of the classical limit of spin, or equivalently to the question of the physical status of pseudoclassical mechanics. In chapter four it is shown that this question is solved if one realizes that the fermionic sector together with the fermionic star product describe the underlying geometric structure. The deformation of a Grassmann algebra leads to a Clifford calculus that is equivalent to geometric algebra. The formulation of geometric algebra in the star product formalism is given in chapter four. One sees there that geometric algebra as the most fundamental geometric formalism that unifies all geometric structures that appear in physics can be described in a supersymmetric manner that parallels the bosonic star product structures. Having obtained a formulation of geometry with fermionic star products this formalism is then applied in the fifth chapter to physical problems. As examples for the application of geometric algebra in classical physics the rigid body and the Kepler problem are considered. In both cases the formalism of geometric algebra gives the most elegant formulation of the problem. In the quantum case one can then combine the fermionic star product formalism that describes the underlying geometric structure with the bosonic star product that describes the noncommuative structure of quantum mechanics. The result is a noncommutative version of geometric algebra that leads to a natural appearance of spin terms. The same idea applied on the phase space leads to the split in supersymmetric partner systems. Geometric algebra gives in this way a natural geometric foundation of supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Similarly one can interpret the hidden BRST-structure of classical mechanics that was found by E. Gozzi and M. Reuter in the path integral formalism from a star product point of view.

•Dec 13, 2007•8 citations
Classical relativistic physics in Clifford algebra has a spinorial formulation that is closely related to standard quantum formalism. The algebraic use of spinors and projectors, together with the bilinear relations of spinors to observed currents, gives quantum-mechanical form to many classical results, and the clear geometric content of the algebra makes it an illuminating probe of the quantum/classical interface. This paper extends past efforts to close the conceptual gap between quantum and classical phenomena while highlighting their essential differences. The paravector representation of spacetime in Cl 3 is used in particular to provide insight into spin-1/2 systems and their measurement.
Classical relativistic physics in Clifforďs geometric algebra has a spinorial formulation that is closely related to the standard quantum formalism. The algebraic use of spinors and projectors, together with the bilinear relations of spinors to observed currents, gives quantum-mechanical form to many classical results, and the clear geometric content of the algebra makes it an illuminating probe of the quantum/classical interface. The aim of this lecture is to close the conceptual gap between quantum and classical phenomena while highlighting their essential differences. The paravector representation of spacetime in APS is used in particular to provide insight into what many pioneering quantum physicists have considered classically indescribable: spin-1/2 systems and their measurement.
Although intrinsic spin is usually viewed as a purely quantum property with no classical analog, we present evidence here that fermion spin has a classical origin rooted in the geometry of three-dimensional physical space. Our approach to the quantum/classical interface is based on a formulation of relativistic classical mechanics that uses spinors. Spinors and projectors arise naturally in the Clifford's geometric algebra of physical space and not only provide powerful tools for solving problems in classical electrodynamics, but also reproduce a number of quantum results. In particular, many properites of elementary fermions, as spin-1/2 particles, are obtained classically and relate spin, the associated g-factor, its coupling to an external magnetic field, and its magnetic moment to Zitterbewegung and de Broglie waves. The relationship is further strengthened by the fact that physical space and its geometric algebra can be derived from fermion annihilation and creation operators. The approach resolves Pauli's argument against treating time as an operator by recognizing phase factors as projected rotation operators.
The foundations of quantum theory are closely tied to a formulation of classical relativistic physics. In Clifford's geometric algebra classical relativistic physics has a spinorial formulation that is closely related to the standard Dirac equation. The algebra of physical space, APS, gives clear insight into the quantum/classical interface. Here, APS is compared to other formulations of relativistic quantum theory, especially the Dirac equation. These formulations are shown to be effectively equivalent to each other and to the standard theory, as demonstrated by establishing several isomorphisms. Dirac spinors are four-component complex entities, and so must be represented by objects containing 8 real degrees of freedom in the standard treatment (or 7 if a normalization constant is added). The relation [special characters omitted]indicates that the 8-dimensional even subalgebra [special characters omitted] of the Space-time algebra, STA is isomorphic to APS Cl 3, which is isomorphic to complex quaternions [special characters omitted]. The complex quaternions should not be confused with the biquaternions, a name sometimes used for them. The biquaternions are more generally elements of the algebra [special characters omitted]. The algebras Cl1,3 and Cl 3,1 are not isomorphic but their even sub-algebras are[1]. The Klein paradox is resolved in APS by considering Feynman's picture of antiparticles as negative energy solutions traveling backward in time. It is also shown that the algebra of physical space can naturally describe an extended version of the De Broglie-Bohm approach to quantum theory. A relativistic causal account of a spin measurement in APS is given. The Stern-Gerlach magnet acts on the eigenspinor Λ field of a charged particle in a way that is analogous to the interaction of a birefringent medium acts on a beam of light. Then we introduce a covariant interpretation of complex algebra of physical space, CAPS, the complex extension of APS. This is done to solve a problem in that the space-time inversion, PT transformation, when P is parity inversion and T time reversal, although it is a proper transformation is not physical, yet, it has the form of a physical rotation in the traditional Dirac theory. The CAPS form of the PT transformation does not have the form of a physical rotation. A further problem is that the explicit form of the time inversion, T and charge conjugation, C transformations depends on the matrix representation chosen. A representation-independent form would be more fundamental. In CAPS, the complex extension of APS these problems are resolved.
In this paper we show how all the quantum properties of Schroedinger and Pauli particles can be described entirely from within a Clifford algebra taken over the reals. There is no need to appeal to any `wave function'. To describe a quantum system, we define the Clifford density element [CDE] as a product of an element of a minimal left ideal and its Clifford conjugate. The properties of the system are then completely specified in terms of bilinear invariants of the first and second kind calculated using the CDE. Thus the quantum properties of a system can be completely described from within the algebra without the need to appeal to any Hilbert space representation. Furthermore we show that the essential bilinear invariants of the second kind are simply the Bohm energy and the Bohm momentum, entities that make their appearance in the Bohm interpretation. We also show how these parameters emerge from standard quantum field theory in the low energy, single particle approximation. There is no need to appeal to classical mechanics at any stage. This clearly shows that the Bohm approach is entirely within the standard quantum formalism. The method has enabled us to lay the foundations of an approach that can be extended to provide a complete relativistic version of Bohm model. In this paper we confine our attention to the details of the non-relativistic case and will present its relativistic extension in a subsequent paper.
Clifford algebras are used for definition of spinors. Because of using spin-1/2 systems as an adequate model of quantum bit, a relation of the algebras with quantum information science has physical reasons. But there are simple mathematical properties of the algebras those also justifies such applications. First, any complex Clifford algebra with 2n generators, Cl(2n,C), has representation as algebra of all 2^n x 2^n complex matrices and so includes unitary matrix of any quantum n-gate. An arbitrary element of whole algebra corresponds to general form of linear complex transformation. The last property is also useful because linear operators are not necessary should be unitary if they used for description of restriction of some unitary operator to subspace. The second advantage is simple algebraic structure of Cl(2n) that can be expressed via tenzor product of standard "building units" and similar with behavior of composite quantum systems. The compact notation with 2n generators also can be used in software for modeling of simple quantum circuits by modern conventional computers.
Considering physics as it is done today one notices that physics separates into two formally and conceptually different parts. There is on the one hand classical physics that deals with macroscopic phenomena and there is on the other hand quantum physics that deals with microscopic phenomena. Penrose [96] described this situation as a disturbing analogy to ancient Greece, where two different sets of laws for earth and heaven were applied. So immediately the question arises if one really has to use different formalisms on different scales or if it is possible to describe physics in a unified way. In order to investigate this question one first has to consider how classical and quantum physics are related. Quantum mechanics results from classical physics by a procedure called quantization and classical physics is reobtained by taking the classical limit. Both procedures are heavily plagued by problems [61, 100]. In the first chapter the mathematical problems of quantization will be addressed and it will be described how the star product formalism circumvents these problems. The star product formalism has the advantage that there is no formal break if one goes from classical physics to quantum physics. This formal advantage and the resulting beauty is then used as a guiding principle for the further development. The first question that arises is if the spin can be described in the star product formalism. That this is indeed possible is shown in the second chapter. As a starting point the spin description with pseudoclassical mechanics as it was developed by Berezin is used. One can then construct a fermionic star product and apply it for deformation quantization of pseudoclassical mechanics. In analogy to the bosonic star product formalism one obtains spin Wigner functions that act as spin projectors. Besides the nonrelativistic case it is also possible to formulate Dirac theory with star products. The Clifford algebra of the gamma matrices is hereby described as a deformed version of a four dimensional Grassmann algebra. The fermionic star product in combination with the bosonic Moyal product leads to a supersymmetric star product formalism that can be used to describe supersymmetric quantum mechanics and in the relativistic case to describe the supersymmetric structure of Dirac theory. The other direction of generalization of the star product formalism is the application of star products in quantum field theory that is described in chapter three. After constructing a suitable normal product it is shown that the algebraic structures of perturbative quantum field theory appear also in the star product formalism, which is an expression of the algebra morphism of the operator and the star product formalism. But moreover the quantum group structure that was recently found in perturbative quantum field theory is shown to be a natural algebraic structure of the star product. The essential advantage of deformation quantization is that the classical limit has a well defined meaning. In the context of the spin description with star products this leads to the question of the classical limit of spin, or equivalently to the question of the physical status of pseudoclassical mechanics. In chapter four it is shown that this question is solved if one realizes that the fermionic sector together with the fermionic star product describe the underlying geometric structure. The deformation of a Grassmann algebra leads to a Clifford calculus that is equivalent to geometric algebra. The formulation of geometric algebra in the star product formalism is given in chapter four. One sees there that geometric algebra as the most fundamental geometric formalism that unifies all geometric structures that appear in physics can be described in a supersymmetric manner that parallels the bosonic star product structures. Having obtained a formulation of geometry with fermionic star products this formalism is then applied in the fifth chapter to physical problems. As examples for the application of geometric algebra in classical physics the rigid body and the Kepler problem are considered. In both cases the formalism of geometric algebra gives the most elegant formulation of the problem. In the quantum case one can then combine the fermionic star product formalism that describes the underlying geometric structure with the bosonic star product that describes the noncommuative structure of quantum mechanics. The result is a noncommutative version of geometric algebra that leads to a natural appearance of spin terms. The same idea applied on the phase space leads to the split in supersymmetric partner systems. Geometric algebra gives in this way a natural geometric foundation of supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Similarly one can interpret the hidden BRST-structure of classical mechanics that was found by E. Gozzi and M. Reuter in the path integral formalism from a star product point of view.