Local observables of an infinite system are described by a quasilocal C*-algebra A. Traditionally classical observables are introduced as parameters that can be assigned to certain states on the local observables. As fundamental theories should be essentially free of parameters this can hardly be regarded as satisfactory. In the present paper classical observables are introduced explicitly as operators by a transitive system of imprimitivity of a kinematical group in the center of the W*-algebra π(A)″ belonging to a representation π of A. The states of the system are represented by linear functionals on π(A)″, which are dispersion-free on the center of π(A)″. For classical observables related to a kinematical group a W*-description—with algebra π(A)″ and its associated linear functionals that are dispersion-free on the center and normal on the noncentral part of π(A)″—is equivalent to a C*-description—with algebra A and a distinguished family of linear functionals on A, determined uniquely by π. The implications of these results on the interpretation of quantum mechanics of infinite systems are discussed.
Local observables of an infinite system are described by a quasilocal C*-algebra A. Traditionally classical observables are introduced as parameters that can be assigned to certain states on the local observables. As fundamental theories should be essentially free of parameters this can hardly be regarded as satisfactory. In the present paper classical observables are introduced explicitly as operators by a transitive system of imprimitivity of a kinematical group in the center of the W*-algebra π(A)″ belonging to a representation π of A. The states of the system are represented by linear functionals on π(A)″, which are dispersion-free on the center of π(A)″. For classical observables related to a kinematical group a W*-description—with algebra π(A)″ and its associated linear functionals that are dispersion-free on the center and normal on the noncentral part of π(A)″—is equivalent to a C*-description—with algebra A and a distinguished family of linear functionals on A, determined uniquely by π. The implications of these results on the interpretation of quantum mechanics of infinite systems are discussed.
Following the work of P. Bona [J. Math. Phys. 29, 2223 (1988)], a class of infinite mean-field quantum lattice systems is considered within the framework of algebraic quantum mechanics, and the following question is discussed: Which are the possible dynamical descriptions of the system, i.e., in which representations π of the system’s quasilocal C*-algebra 𝒜 do the local time evolutions converge in the thermodynamic limit to an automorphism group of a certain enlarged C*-algebra 𝒞π containing π(𝒜) and (some of) the classical observables of the system in π. To this end we associate a ‘‘classical state space’’ Eπ to any representation π (which is a subset of the phase-space E⊇RL defined by Bona for the largest possible representation), and show how it is characterized by the π-normal states, thereby obtaining a way to determine Eπ explicitly in many cases. The answer to the question posed then reads: The limiting (Heisenberg) dynamics exists in π on 𝒞π if and only if the set Eπ is invariant under the flow φQt on E which describes the time evolution of classical observables. Conversely, to any invariant, closed subset B of E, there exists a dynamical description of the quantum system with classical state space B.
A certain infinite-dimensional Lie group, obtained originally by regularizing and then exponentiating a singular local current algebra constructed from canonical fields, has been shown over several decades to describe a wide variety of quantum systems, via its continuous unitary representations. The group is a semidirect product of Schwartz space functions under pointwise addition with a diffeomorphism group under composition. Previously unsuspected possibilities were predicted this way, including anyons and nonabelian anyons in two-dimensional space. Last year David Sharp and I offered a much simpler, direct construction. We proposed fundamental reasons why this group serves as a universal kinematical group for quantum systems with mass in an arbitrary physical space. This paper beyond summarizing that construction, discusses more extensively what it means to obtain quantum mechanics without actually quantizing classical observables in phase space, and answers some fundamental questions. Directions are suggested for obtaining still greater generality of kinematical and dynamical possibilities by modifying the initial assumptions.
The concepts of superposition and of transition probability, familiar from pure states in quantum physics, are extended to locally normal states on funnels of type I∞ factors. Such funnels are used in the description of infinite systems, appearing for example in quantum field theory or in quantum statistical mechanics; their respective constituents are interpreted as algebras of observables localized in an increasing family of nested spacetime regions. Given a generic reference state (expectation functional) on a funnel, e.g. a ground state or a thermal equilibrium state, it is shown that irrespective of the global type of this state all of its excitations, generated by the adjoint action of elements of the funnel, can coherently be superimposed in a meaningful manner. Moreover, these states are the extreme points of their convex hull and as such are analogues of pure states. As further support of this analogy, transition probabilities are defined, complete families of orthogonal states are exhibited and a one-to-one correspondence between the states and families of minimal projections on a Hilbert space is established. The physical interpretation of these quantities relies on a concept of primitive observables. It extends the familiar framework of observable algebras and avoids some counter intuitive features of that setting. Primitive observables admit a consistent statistical interpretation of corresponding measurements and their impact on states is described by a variant of the von Neumann–Lüders projection postulate.
The algebra of polynomials in operators that represent generalized coordinate and momentum and depend on the Planck constant is defined. The Planck constant is treated as the parameter taking values between zero and some nonvanishing h0. For the second of these two extreme values, introduced operatorial algebra becomes equivalent to the algebra of observables of quantum mechanical system defined in the standard manner by operators in the Hilbert space. For the vanishing Planck constant, the generalized algebra gives the operator formulation of classical mechanics since it is equivalent to the algebra of variables of classical mechanical system defined, as usually, by functions over the phase space. In this way, the semiclassical limit of kinematical part of quantum mechanics is established through the generalized operatorial framework.
This is an up-to-date survey of the p-mechanical construction (see funct-an/9405002, quant-ph/9610016, math-ph/0007030, quant-ph/0212101, quant-ph/0303142), which is a consistent physical theory suitable for a simultaneous description of classical and quantum mechanics. Observables in p-mechanics are defined to be convolution operators on the Heisenberg group H^n. Under irreducible representations of H^n the p-observables generate corresponding observables in classical and quantum mechanics. p-States are defined as positive linear functionals on p-observables. It is shown that both states and observables can be realised as certain sets of functions/distributions on the Heisenberg group. The dynamical equations for both p-observables and p-states are provided. The construction is illustrated by the forced and unforced harmonic oscillators. Connections with the contextual interpretation of quantum mechanics are discussed. Keywords: Classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, Moyal brackets, Poisson brackets, commutator, Heisenberg group, orbit method, deformation quantisation, symplectic group, representation theory, metaplectic representation, Berezin quantisation, Weyl quantisation, Segal--Bargmann--Fock space, coherent states, wavelet transform, Liouville equation, contextual interpretation, interaction picture, forced harmonic oscillator.
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.