It is argued that geometric algebra, in the form of the multiparticle spacetime algebra, is well suited to the study of multiparticle quantum theory, with advantages over conventional techniques both in ease of calculation and in providing an intuitive geometric understanding of the results. This is illustrated by comparing the geometric algebra approach for a system of two spin-1/2 particles with the nonrelativistic approach of Holland [Phys. Rep. 169, 294 (1988)].
It is argued that geometric algebra, in the form of the multiparticle spacetime algebra, is well suited to the study of multiparticle quantum theory, with advantages over conventional techniques both in ease of calculation and in providing an intuitive geometric understanding of the results. This is illustrated by comparing the geometric algebra approach for a system of two spin-1/2 particles with the nonrelativistic approach of Holland [Phys. Rep. 169, 294 (1988)].
In this chapter we study the application of geometric algebra to both nonrelativistic and relativistic quantum mechanics. We concentrate on the quantum theory of spin-1/2 particles, whose dynamics is described by the Pauli and Dirac equations. For interactions where spin and relativity are not important the dynamics reduces to that of the Schrödinger equation. There are many good textbooks describing this topic and we will make no attempt to cover it here. We assume, furthermore, that most readers have a basic understanding of quantum mechanics, and are familiar with the concepts of states and operators. Both the Pauli and Dirac matrices arise naturally as representations of the geometric algebras of space and spacetime. It is no surprise, then, that much of quantum theory finds a natural expression within geometric algebra. To achieve this, however, one must reconsider the standard interpretation of the quantum spin operators. Like much discussion of the interpretation of quantum theory, certain issues raised here are controversial. There is no question about the validity of our algebraic approach, however, and little doubt about its advantages. Whether the algebraic simplifications obtained here are indicative of a deeper structure embedded in quantum mechanics is an open question. In this chapter we only consider the quantum theory of single particles in background fields. Multiparticle systems are considered in the following chapter.
The multiparticle spacetime algebra (MSTA) is an extension of Dirac theory to a multiparticle setting, which was first studied by Doran, Gull and Lasenby. The geometric interpretation of this algebra, which it inherits from its one-particle factors, possesses a number of physically compelling features, including simple derivations of the Pauli exclusion principle and other nonlocal effects in quantum physics. Of particular importance here is the fact that all the operations needed in the quantum (statistical) mechanics of spin 1/2 particles can be carried out in the “even subalgebra” of the MSTA. This enables us to “lift” existing results in quantum information theory regarding entanglement, decoherence and the quantum / classical transition to spacetime. The full power of the MSTA and its geometric interpretation can then be used to obtain new insights into these foundational issues in quantum theory. A system of spin 1/2 particles located at fixed positions in space, and interacting with an external magnetic field and/or with one another via their intrinsic magnetic dipoles provides a simple paradigm for the study of these issues. This paradigm can further be easily realized and studied in the laboratory by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
The multi particle spacetime algebra (MSTA) is an extension of Dirac theory to a multi particle setting, which was first studied by Doran, Gull and Lasenby. The geometric interpretation of this algebra, which it inherits from its one-particle factors, possesses a number of physically com pelling features, including simple derivations of the Pauli exclusion princi ple and other nonlocal effects in quantum physics. Of particular importance here is the fact that all the operations needed in the quantum (statistical) mechanics of spin 1/2 particles can be carried out in the even subalge bra of the MSTA. This enables us to lift existing results in quantum information theory regarding entanglement, de coherence and the quantum / classical transition to spacetime. The full power of the MSTA and its geometric interpretation can then be used to obtain new insights into these foundational issues in quantum theory. A system of spin 1/2 particles lo cated at fixed positions in space, and interacting with an external magnetic field and/or with one another via their intrinsic magnetic dipoles provides a simple paradigm for the study of these issues. This paradigm can fur ther be easily realized and studied in the laboratory by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Alternative mathematical explorations in quantum computing can be of great scientific interest, especially if they come with penetrating physical insights. In this paper, we present a critical revisitation of our application of geometric (Clifford) algebras (GAs) in quantum computing as originally presented in [C. Cafaro and S. Mancini, Adv. Appl. Clifford Algebras 21, 493 (2011)]. Our focus is on testing the usefulness of geometric algebras (GAs) techniques in two quantum computing applications. First, making use of the geometric algebra of a relativistic configuration space (namely multiparticle spacetime algebra or MSTA), we offer an explicit algebraic characterization of one- and two-qubit quantum states together with a MSTA description of one- and two-qubit quantum computational gates. In this first application, we devote special attention to the concept of entanglement, focusing on entangled quantum states and two-qubit entangling quantum gates. Second, exploiting the previously mentioned MSTA characterization together with the GA depiction of the Lie algebras SO3;R and SU2;C depending on the rotor group Spin+3,0 formalism, we focus our attention to the concept of universality in quantum computing by reevaluating Boykin’s proof on the identification of a suitable set of universal quantum gates. At the end of our mathematical exploration, we arrive at two main conclusions. Firstly, the MSTA perspective leads to a powerful conceptual unification between quantum states and quantum operators. More specifically, the complex qubit space and the complex space of unitary operators acting on them merge in a single multivectorial real space. Secondly, the GA viewpoint on rotations based on the rotor group Spin+3,0 carries both conceptual and computational advantages compared to conventional vectorial and matricial methods.
This is a non-standard exposition of the main notions of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, including recent results. It is based on the algebraic approach in which the starting point is a star-algebra and on the geometric approach in which the starting point is a convex set of states. Standard formulas for quantum probabilities are derived from decoherence. This derivation allows us to go beyond quantum theory in the geometric approach. Particles are defined as elementary excitations of the ground state (and quasiparticles as elementary excitations of any translation invariant state). The conventional scattering matrix does not work for quasiparticles (or even for particles if the theory does not have particle interpretation). The analysis of scattering in these cases is based on the notion of an inclusive scattering matrix, which is closely related to inclusive cross-sections. It is proven that the conventional scattering matrix can be expressed in terms of Green functions (LSZ formula) and the inclusive scattering matrix can be expressed in terms of generalized Green functions that appear in the Keldysh formalism of non-equilibrium statistical physics. The derivation of the expression of the evolution operator and other physical quantities in terms of functional integrals is based on the notion of the symbol of an operator; these arguments can be applied in the geometric approach as well. In particular, this result can be used to provide a simple derivation of the diagram technique for generalized Green functions. The notion of an inclusive scattering matrix makes sense in the geometric approach, although it seems that a definition of the conventional scattering matrix cannot be provided in this situation. The geometric approach is used to show that quantum mechanics and its generalizations can be considered as classical theories where our devices are able to measure only a part of the observables.
The Geometric Algebra formalism opens the door to developing a theory upgrading conventional quantum mechanics. Generalizations, stemming from implementation of complex numbers as geometrically feasible objects in three dimensions; unambiguous definition of states, observables, measurements bring into reality clear explanations of conventional weird quantum mechanical features, particularly the results of double split experiments where particles create diffraction patterns inherent to wave diffraction. This weirdness of the double split experiment is milestone of all further difficulties in interpretation of quantum mechanics.