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International Journal of General Systems

Category-theoretic analysis of the notion of complementarity for quantum systems

Elias Zafiris

Published Feb 1, 2006• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper we adopt a category-theoretic viewpoint in order to analyze the semantics of complementarity for quantum systems. Based on the existence of a pair of adjoint functors between the topos of presheaves of the Boolean kind of structure and the category of the quantum kind of structure, we establish a twofold complementarity scheme which constitutes an instance of the concept of adjunction. It is further argued that the established scheme is inextricably connected with a realistic philosophical attitude, although substantially different from the classical one.

DOI
10.1080/03081070500502777

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In this paper we adopt a category-theoretic viewpoint in order to analyze the semantics of complementarity for quantum systems. Based on the existence of a pair of adjoint functors between the topos of presheaves of the Boolean kind of structure and the category of the quantum kind of structure, we establish a twofold complementarity scheme which constitutes an instance of the concept of adjunction. It is further argued that the established scheme is inextricably connected with a realistic philosophical attitude, although substantially different from the classical one.
We introduce a foundational sheaf theoretical scheme for the comprehension of quantum event structures, in terms of localization systems consisting of Boolean coordinatization coverings induced by measurement. The scheme is based on the existence of a categorical adjunction between presheaves of Boolean event algebras and Quantum event algebras. On the basis of this adjoint correspondence we prove the existence of an object of truth values in the category of quantum logics, characterized as subobject classifier. This classifying object plays the equivalent role that the two-valued Boolean truth values object plays in classical event structures. We construct the object of quantum truth values explicitly and argue that it constitutes the appropriate choice for the valuation of propositions describing the behavior of quantum systems.
We construct a sheaf-theoretic representation of quantum events structures, in terms of Boolean localization systems. These covering systems are constructed as ideals of structure-preserving morphisms of quantum event algebras from varying Boolean domains, identified with physical contexts of measurement. The modeling sheaf-theoretic scheme is based on the existence of a categorical adjunction between presheaves of Boolean event algebras and quantum event algebras. On the basis of this adjoint correspondence, we also prove the existence of an object of truth values in the category of quantum logics, characterized as subobject classifier. This classifying object plays the equivalent role that the two-valued Boolean truth values object plays in classical events structures. We construct the object of quantum truth values explicitly, and furthermore, demonstrate its functioning for the valuation of propositions in a typical quantum measurement situation.
We construct a sheaf-theoretic representation of quantum probabilistic structures, in terms of covering systems of Boolean measure algebras. These systems coordinatize quantum states by means of Boolean coefficients, interpreted as Boolean localization measures. The representation is based on the existence of a pair of adjoint functors between the category of presheaves of Boolean measure algebras and the category of quantum measure algebras. The sheaf-theoretic semantic transition of quantum structures shifts their physical significance from the orthoposet axiomatization at the level of events, to the sheaf-theoretic gluing conditions at the level of Boolean localization systems.
The paper is the contribution to quantum toposophy focusing on the abstract orthomodular structures (following Dunn-Moss-Wang terminology). Early quantum toposophical approach to "abstract quantum logic" was proposed based on the topos of functors [E,Sets]\mathsf{[E,Sets]}[E,Sets] where E\mathsf{E}E is a so-called orthomodular preorder category – a modification of categorically rewritten orthomodular lattice (taking into account that like any lattice it will be a finite co-complete preorder category). In the paper another kind of categorical semantics of quantum logic is discussed which is based on the modification of the topos construction itself – so called quantosquantosquantos – which would be evaluated as a non-classical modification of topos with some extra structure allowing to take into consideration the peculiarity of negation in orthomodular quantum logic. The algebra of subobjects of quantos is not the Heyting algebra but an orthomodular lattice. Quantoses might be apprehended as an abstract reflection of Landsman's proposal of "Bohrification", i.e., the mathematical interpretation of Bohr's classical concepts by commutative C∗C^*C∗-algebras, which in turn are studied in their quantum habitat of noncommutative C∗C^*C∗-algebras – more fundamental structures than commutative C∗C^*C∗-algebras. The Bohrification suggests that topos-theoretic approach also should be modified. Since topos by its nature is an intuitionistic construction then Bohrification in abstract case should be transformed in an application of categorical structure based on an orthomodular lattice which is more general construction than Heyting algebra – orthomodular lattices are non-distributive while Heyting algebras are distributive ones. Toposes thus should be studied in their quantum habitat of "orthomodular" categories i.e. of quntoses. Also an interpretation of some well-known systems of orthomodular quantum logic in quantos of functors [E,QSets]\mathsf{[E,QSets]}[E,QSets] is constructed where QSets\mathsf{QSets}QSets is a quantos (not a topos) of quantum sets. The completeness of those systems in respect to the semantics proposed is proved.
We relate notions of complementarity in three layers of quantum mechanics: (i) von Neumann algebras, (ii) Hilbert spaces, and (iii) orthomodular lattices. Taking a more general categorical perspective of which the above are instances, we consider dagger monoidal kernel categories for (ii), so that (i) become (sub)endohomsets and (iii) become subobject lattices. By developing a ‘point-free’ definition of copyability we link (i) commutative von Neumann subalgebras, (ii) classical structures, and (iii) Boolean subalgebras.
An observable effects a schematization of the Quantum event structure by correlating Boolean algebras picked by measurements with the Borel algebra of the real line. In a well-defined sense Boolean observables play the role of coordinatizing objects in the Quantum world, by picking Boolean figures and subsequently opening Boolean windows for the perception of the latter, interpreted as local measurement charts. A mathematical scheme for the implementation of this thesis is being proposed based on Category theoretical methods. The scheme leads to a manifold representation of Quantum structure in terms of topos-theoretical Boolean reference frames. The coordinatizing objects give rise to structure preserving maps with the modeling objects as their domains, effecting finally an isomorphism between quantum event algebra objects and Boolean localization systems for the masurement of observables.