A brief survey of the mathematics of quantum physics

Jarosław Pykacz

Franco Strocchi

Gabriel Catren

In this brief survey, we discuss some of the scientific and philosophical problems and debates that underlie the notions of identity , individuality and indistinguishability in physics and mathematics. We critically analyse the different positions for or against the existence of indistinguishable objects in different scientific theories, notably quantum mechanics and gauge theories in physics and homotopy type theory in mathematics. We argue that the different forms of indistinguishability that occur in many areas of physics and mathematics—far from being a problem to be eradicated—exhibit a rich formal structure that plays a key role in the corresponding theories that needs to be properly understood. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Identity, individuality and indistinguishability in physics and mathematics’.

Ivan T. Todorov

Expository notes which combine a historical survey of the development of quantum physics with a review of selected mathematical topics in quantization theory (addressed to students that are not complete novices in quantum mechanics). After recalling in the introduction the early stages of the quantum revolution, and recapitulating in Sect. 2.1 some basic notions of symplectic geometry, we survey in Sect. 2.2 the so called prequantization thus preparing the ground for an outline of geometric quantization (Sect. 2.3). In Sect. 3 we apply the general theory to the study of basic examples of quantization of Kaehler manifolds. In Sect. 4 we review the Weyl and Wigner maps and the work of Groenewold and Moyal that laid the foundations of quantum mechanics in phase space, ending with a brief survey of the modern development of deformation quantization. Sect. 5 provides a review of second quantization and its mathematical interpretation. We point out that the treatment of (nonrelativistic) bound states requires going beyond the neat mathematical formalization of the concept of second quantization. An appendix is devoted to Pascual Jordan, the least known among the creators of quantum mechanics and the chief architect of the "theory of quantized matter waves".

Franco Strocchi

Eric C. Rowell

The topological model for quantum computation is an inherently fault-tolerant model built on anyons in topological phases of matter. A key role is played by the braid group, and in this survey we focus on a selection of ways that the mathematical study of braids is crucial for the theory. We provide some brief historical context as well, emphasizing ways that braiding appears in physical contexts. We also briefly discuss the 3-dimensional generalization of braiding: motions of knots.