Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Mathematical Physics

Algebraic Difficulties of Preserving Dynamical Relations When Forming Quantum-Mechanical Operators

Richard F. Arens, Donald G. Babbitt

Published Jul 1, 1965• 24 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Proofs are presented showing impossibility of assigning differential operators (quantum observables) to classical mechanical observables in such a way as to preserve the usual bracket formalism. Difficulty is shown to arise even if we limit ourselves to preserving brackets between the Hamiltonian and a rather limited set of observables. Some other algebraic difficulties inherent in the operator assignment problem are also discussed.

DOI
10.1063/1.1704370

Related papers

Nambu mechanics and its quantization

Debendranath Sahoo, M. C. Valsakumar

The algebra of observables inherent in the Nambu formalism [Phys. Rev. D 7, 2405 (1973)] for a generalization of classical Hamiltonian dynamics is investigated. A consistency requirement of time evolution of the Nambu bracket leads to a five-point identity. Two types of algebras are possible at the classical level. Their composition properties under a tensor product are considered and the physical implications are analyzed. A quantum generalization of these algebras is shown to be impossible.

Physical Review A•Oct 1, 1992•44 citations

Formulation of the Classical Mechanics in the Ring of Operators

Abdullah Verçin

By making use of the Weyl-Wigner-Groenewold-Moyal association rules, a commutative product and a new quantum bracket are constructed in the ring of operators \cal{F}(H). In this way, an isomorphism between Lie algebra of classical observables (with Poisson bracket) and the Lie algebra of quantum observables with this new bracket is established. By these observations, a formulation of the classical mechanics in \cal{F}(H} is obtained and is shown to be \hbar\to 0 limit of the Heisenberg picture formulation of the quantum mechanics.

arXiv:quant-ph/9902064•Feb 18, 1999•1 citation

The dynamics of a simple system. I. Observables

F. C. Powell

Any particular form of mechanics (e.g. classical or quantum) makes use of a particular ‘formalism’ or set of rules governing the use of the symbols representing dynamical variables and the symbols (such as +, =) representing relations between dynamical variables. In the present paper an attempt is made to examine the physical content of this formalism, particularly that of quantum mechanics. This is done by building up a formalism as the direct expression of a number of physical postulates having direct operational meaning. It is shown that, in a simple case, with any two observables A and B can be associated a unique sum observable A + B and a unique (real) symmetric product observable A.B (= B.A). It is next shown that, if, like a classical Hamiltonian system, the system has the property that the time rate of change of an observable depends linearly on some observable H when the environment in which the system moves is varied, then a (real) skew product observable A × B (= − B × A) can be defined. Finally, if the equations of motion are ‘of second order', it is possible to express the second rate of change of any observable as an algebraic function of that observable and H. This leads to algebraic identities from which it follows that ‘complex multiplication’, defined by AB = A.B + iA × B, is associative (but not commutative). Observables are thus shown to possess the properties usually ascribed to them in quantum mechanics. These properties make possible a representation by Hermitian matrices.

Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society•Jun 1, 1945•2 citations

Quantization and the Classical Hamilton-Jacobi Equation

Lloyd Motz

In this paper, a formalism for quantization is developed which starts out from the Hamilton-Jacobi expression, $\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}S}{\ensuremath{\partial}t}+H(\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}S}{\ensuremath{\partial}q}, q)$, and which leads to its usual quantum-mechanical operator equivalent by means of straightforward algebra. The quantum-mechanical operator equivalents of $H$ and $p$ are then seen to be the consequence of assigning a number of equally probable classical paths to a dynamical system.

Physical Review•Apr 1, 1962•20 citations

Origin of the quantum observable operator algebra in the frame of stochastic mechanics

Francesco Guerra, R. Marra

In previous work the approach to stochastic quantization, originally proposed by Nelson, has been formulated in the frame of the stochastic variational principles of control theory. Then the Hamilton-Jacobi-Madelung equation is interpreted as the programming equation of the controlled problem, to be associated with the hydrodynamical continuity equation. Here we point out explicitly the canonical Hamiltonian structure of these equations, by introducing a suitable symplectic structure on the underlying phase space in various representations. One possible representation leads to the Schr\"odinger equation, which, together with its complex conjugate, can be recognized as a particular form of the Hamilton canonical equations in this frame. Then a suitably selected time-invariant subalgebra of the classical hydrodynamical algebra, closed under Poisson bracket pairing, is shown to be connected to the standard quantum observable operator algebra. In this correspondence Poisson brackets for hydrodynamical observables become averages of quantum observables in the given state. From this point of view stochastic quantization can be interpreted as giving an explanation for the standard quantization procedure of replacing the classical particle (or field) observables with operators, according to the scheme $p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(\frac{h}{i})\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}}{\ensuremath{\partial}x}$, $l\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(\frac{h}{i})\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}}{\ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\varphi}}$, etc. This discussion shows also the relevance of the canonical symplectic structure of the quantum state space, a feature which seems to have been overlooked in the axiomatic approaches to quantum mechanics.

Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields•Oct 15, 1983•35 citations

On the Classical-Quantum Relation of Constants of Motion

Fabián Belmonte, Tomás Veloz

Groenewold-Van Hove theorem suggest that is not always possible to transform classical observables into quantum observables (a process known as quantization) in a way that, for all Hamiltonians, the constants of motion are preserved. The latter is a strong shortcoming for the ultimate goal of quantization, as one would expect that the notion of ``constants of motion" is independent of the chosen physical scheme. It has been recently developed an approach to quantization that instead of mapping every classical observable into a quantum observable, it focuses on mapping the constants of motion themselves. In this article we will discuss the relations between classical and quantum theory under the light of this new form of quantization. In particular, we will examine the mapping of a class of operators that generalizes angular momentum where quantization satisfies the usual desirable properties.

Frontiers in Physics•Nov 13, 2018•0 citations
Proofs are presented showing impossibility of assigning differential operators (quantum observables) to classical mechanical observables in such a way as to preserve the usual bracket formalism. Difficulty is shown to arise even if we limit ourselves to preserving brackets between the Hamiltonian and a rather limited set of observables. Some other algebraic difficulties inherent in the operator assignment problem are also discussed.
By making use of the Weyl-Wigner-Groenewold-Moyal association rules, a commutative product and a new quantum bracket are constructed in the ring of operators \cal{F}(H). In this way, an isomorphism between Lie algebra of classical observables (with Poisson bracket) and the Lie algebra of quantum observables with this new bracket is established. By these observations, a formulation of the classical mechanics in \cal{F}(H} is obtained and is shown to be \hbar\to 0 limit of the Heisenberg picture formulation of the quantum mechanics.
Any particular form of mechanics (e.g. classical or quantum) makes use of a particular ‘formalism’ or set of rules governing the use of the symbols representing dynamical variables and the symbols (such as +, =) representing relations between dynamical variables. In the present paper an attempt is made to examine the physical content of this formalism, particularly that of quantum mechanics. This is done by building up a formalism as the direct expression of a number of physical postulates having direct operational meaning. It is shown that, in a simple case, with any two observables A and B can be associated a unique sum observable A + B and a unique (real) symmetric product observable A.B (= B.A). It is next shown that, if, like a classical Hamiltonian system, the system has the property that the time rate of change of an observable depends linearly on some observable H when the environment in which the system moves is varied, then a (real) skew product observable A × B (= − B × A) can be defined. Finally, if the equations of motion are ‘of second order', it is possible to express the second rate of change of any observable as an algebraic function of that observable and H. This leads to algebraic identities from which it follows that ‘complex multiplication’, defined by AB = A.B + iA × B, is associative (but not commutative). Observables are thus shown to possess the properties usually ascribed to them in quantum mechanics. These properties make possible a representation by Hermitian matrices.
In this paper, a formalism for quantization is developed which starts out from the Hamilton-Jacobi expression, $\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}S}{\ensuremath{\partial}t}+H(\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}S}{\ensuremath{\partial}q}, q)$, and which leads to its usual quantum-mechanical operator equivalent by means of straightforward algebra. The quantum-mechanical operator equivalents of HHH and ppp are then seen to be the consequence of assigning a number of equally probable classical paths to a dynamical system.
In previous work the approach to stochastic quantization, originally proposed by Nelson, has been formulated in the frame of the stochastic variational principles of control theory. Then the Hamilton-Jacobi-Madelung equation is interpreted as the programming equation of the controlled problem, to be associated with the hydrodynamical continuity equation. Here we point out explicitly the canonical Hamiltonian structure of these equations, by introducing a suitable symplectic structure on the underlying phase space in various representations. One possible representation leads to the Schr\"odinger equation, which, together with its complex conjugate, can be recognized as a particular form of the Hamilton canonical equations in this frame. Then a suitably selected time-invariant subalgebra of the classical hydrodynamical algebra, closed under Poisson bracket pairing, is shown to be connected to the standard quantum observable operator algebra. In this correspondence Poisson brackets for hydrodynamical observables become averages of quantum observables in the given state. From this point of view stochastic quantization can be interpreted as giving an explanation for the standard quantization procedure of replacing the classical particle (or field) observables with operators, according to the scheme $p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(\frac{h}{i})\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}}{\ensuremath{\partial}x}$, $l\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(\frac{h}{i})\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}}{\ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\varphi}}$, etc. This discussion shows also the relevance of the canonical symplectic structure of the quantum state space, a feature which seems to have been overlooked in the axiomatic approaches to quantum mechanics.
Groenewold-Van Hove theorem suggest that is not always possible to transform classical observables into quantum observables (a process known as quantization) in a way that, for all Hamiltonians, the constants of motion are preserved. The latter is a strong shortcoming for the ultimate goal of quantization, as one would expect that the notion of ``constants of motion" is independent of the chosen physical scheme. It has been recently developed an approach to quantization that instead of mapping every classical observable into a quantum observable, it focuses on mapping the constants of motion themselves. In this article we will discuss the relations between classical and quantum theory under the light of this new form of quantization. In particular, we will examine the mapping of a class of operators that generalizes angular momentum where quantization satisfies the usual desirable properties.