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Wigner quantization and Lie superalgebra representations

G. Regniers

Published Jan 1, 2011• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

In quantum mechanics, physical observables are represented by operators on a certain Hilbert space. The question of how such operators commute, has been a matter of discussion. In the standard perspective, the operators corresponding to the position and momentum of a system are assumed to satisfy the canonical commutation relations. It is known that these relations imply that the Hamilton and Heisenberg equations of motion are compatible as operator equations. However, Wigner showed that the inverse statement is not true. Therefore, it is a much weaker constraint to impose the compatibility of the equations of motion. For any physical system, this results in a set of compatibility conditions, which form the core of Wigner quantization. The key to finding operators that are subject to the compatibility conditions is provided by Lie superalgebras and their representations. Lie superalgebras can be defined as algebras generated by odd elements satisfying particular superbracket relations. Using these defining relations, Lie superalgebra generators can be found that obey the compatibility conditions. The Lie superalgebra elements act as operators on a vector space if we consider Lie superalgebra representations. Various physical systems are investigated in this thesis in the context of Wigner quantization. For each of these systems solutions are found in terms of Lie superalgebra generators, after which specific representations are examined. In such representations, the focus lies on determining particular physical properties of the system. Most of the studied systems are harmonic oscillator models. First, we examine a set-up of coupled harmonic oscillators, for which the interaction is represented by an interaction matrix. Then we focus on the angular momentum content of a $3N$-dimensional harmonic oscillator. Finally, our attention goes to two one-dimensional systems, namely the free particle and the Berry-Keating-Connes Hamiltonian. The latter of these Hamiltonians is notorious for its possible connection with the Riemann hypothesis. All of the aforementioned Hamiltonians have been extensively investigated in the context of canonical quantization, so that our results can be compared to the well-known canonical case.

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In a system of coupled harmonic oscillators, the interaction can be represented by a real, symmetric and positive definite interaction matrix.The quantization of a Hamiltonian describing such a system has been done in the canonical case.In this paper, we take a more general approach and look at the system as a Wigner quantum system.Hereby, one does not assume the canonical commutation relations, but instead one just requires the compatibility between the Hamilton and Heisenberg equations.Solutions of this problem are related to the Lie superalgebras gl(1|n) and osp(1|2n).We determine the spectrum of the considered Hamiltonian in specific representations of these Lie superalgebras and discuss the results in detail.We also make the connection with the well-known canonical case.

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A noncanonical quantum system, consisting of two nonrelativistic particles, interacting via a harmonic potential, is considered. The center-of-mass position and momentum operators obey the canonical commutation relations, whereas the internal variables are assumed to be the odd generators of the Lie superalgebra sl(1,2). This assumption implies a set of constraints in the phase space, which are explicitly written in the paper. All finite-dimensional irreducible representations of sl(1,2) are considered. Particular attention is paid to the physical representations, i.e., the representations corresponding to Hermitian position and momentum operators. The properties of the physical observables are investigated. In particular, the operators of the internal Hamiltonian, the relative distance, the internal momentum, and the orbital momentum commute with each other. The spectrum of these operators is finite. The distance between the constituents is preserved in time. It can take no more than three different values. For any non-negative integer or half-integer l there exists a representation, where the orbital momentum is l (in units of 2ℏ). The position of any one of the particles cannot be localized, since the operators of the coordinates do not commute with each other. The constituents are smeared with a certain probability within a finite surface, which moves with a constant velocity together with the center of mass.

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Recently, several papers have been dedicated to the Wigner quantization of different Hamil-tonians. In these examples, many interesting mathematical and physical properties have been shown. Among those we have the ubiquitous relation with Lie superalgebras and their repre-sentations. In this paper, we study two one-dimensional Hamiltonians for which the Wigner quantization is related with the orthosymplectic Lie superalgebra osp(1|2). One of them, the Hamiltonian H ̂ = x̂p̂, is popular due to its connection with the Riemann zeros, discovered by Berry and Keating on the one hand and Connes on the other. The Hamiltonian of the free par-ticle, Ĥf = p̂ 2/2, is the second Hamiltonian we will examine. Wigner quantization introduces an extra representation parameter for both of these Hamiltonians. Canonical quantization is recovered by restricting to a specific representation of the Lie superalgebra osp(1|2).

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We consider a quantum system consisting of a one-dimensional chain of M identical harmonic oscillators with natural frequency ω, coupled by means of springs. Such systems have been studied before, and appear in various models. In this paper, we approach the system as a Wigner quantum system, not imposing the canonical commutation relations, but using instead weaker relations following from the compatibility of Hamilton’s equations and the Heisenberg equations. In such a setting, the quantum system allows solutions in a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, with a discrete spectrum for all physical operators. We show that a class of solutions can be obtained using generators of the Lie superalgebra gl(1∣M). Then we study – from a mathematical point of view – the properties and spectra of the physical operators in a class of unitary representations of gl(1∣M). These properties are both interesting and intriguing. In particular, we can give a complete analysis of the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian and of the position and momentum operators (including multiplicities). We also study probability distributions of position operators when the quantum system is in a stationary state, and the effect of the position of one oscillator on the positions of the remaining oscillators in the chain.

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Abstract. After introducing Wigner Quantum Systems, we give a short review of the one-dimensional Wigner Quantum Oscillator. Then we define the three-dimensional N-particle Wigner Quantum Oscillator, and its relation to the Lie su-peralgebra sl(1|3N). In this framework (and first for N = 1), energy, coordinates, momentum and the angular momentum of the particles are investigated. Wigner Quantum Systems (WQSs) are quantum systems in which the canonical com-mutation relations (CCRs) are replaced by a compatibility condition between the Heisenberg equations and Hamilton’s equations. By dropping the CCRs, WQSs offer a natural framework for quantum mechanics with non-commutative coordinates. Here we consider in particular the three-dimensional N-particle Wigner Quantum Oscillator (WQO). As an introductory ex-ample, some properties of the one-dimensional WQO are reviewed, with an emphasis on the different particle probability distributions (as compared to the ordinary one-dimensional os-cillator). For the three-dimensional N-particle WQO, a solution related to the Lie superalge-bra sl(1|3N) is considered. For N = 1 we investigate the operators corresponding to coordi-nates, momentum and angular momentum of the particle in a class of representation spaces.

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Solutions of the compatibility conditions for a Wigner quantum oscillator

Nedialka I. Stoilova, Joris Van Der Jeugt

We consider the compatibility conditions for a N-particle D-dimensional Wigner quantum oscillator. These conditions can be rewritten as certain triple relations involving anticommutators, so it is natural to look for solutions in terms of Lie superalgebras. In the recent classification of “generalized quantum statistics ” for the basic classical Lie superalgebras [1], each such statistics is characterized by a set of creation and annihilation operators plus a set of triple relations. In the present letter, we investigate which cases of this classification also lead to solutions of the compatibility conditions. Our analysis yields some known solutions and several classes of new solutions.

•Jan 1, 2005•5 citations
In quantum mechanics, physical observables are represented by operators on a certain Hilbert space. The question of how such operators commute, has been a matter of discussion. In the standard perspective, the operators corresponding to the position and momentum of a system are assumed to satisfy the canonical commutation relations. It is known that these relations imply that the Hamilton and Heisenberg equations of motion are compatible as operator equations. However, Wigner showed that the inverse statement is not true. Therefore, it is a much weaker constraint to impose the compatibility of the equations of motion. For any physical system, this results in a set of compatibility conditions, which form the core of Wigner quantization. The key to finding operators that are subject to the compatibility conditions is provided by Lie superalgebras and their representations. Lie superalgebras can be defined as algebras generated by odd elements satisfying particular superbracket relations. Using these defining relations, Lie superalgebra generators can be found that obey the compatibility conditions. The Lie superalgebra elements act as operators on a vector space if we consider Lie superalgebra representations. Various physical systems are investigated in this thesis in the context of Wigner quantization. For each of these systems solutions are found in terms of Lie superalgebra generators, after which specific representations are examined. In such representations, the focus lies on determining particular physical properties of the system. Most of the studied systems are harmonic oscillator models. First, we examine a set-up of coupled harmonic oscillators, for which the interaction is represented by an interaction matrix. Then we focus on the angular momentum content of a 3N3N3N-dimensional harmonic oscillator. Finally, our attention goes to two one-dimensional systems, namely the free particle and the Berry-Keating-Connes Hamiltonian. The latter of these Hamiltonians is notorious for its possible connection with the Riemann hypothesis. All of the aforementioned Hamiltonians have been extensively investigated in the context of canonical quantization, so that our results can be compared to the well-known canonical case.
In a system of coupled harmonic oscillators, the interaction can be represented by a real, symmetric and positive definite interaction matrix.The quantization of a Hamiltonian describing such a system has been done in the canonical case.In this paper, we take a more general approach and look at the system as a Wigner quantum system.Hereby, one does not assume the canonical commutation relations, but instead one just requires the compatibility between the Hamilton and Heisenberg equations.Solutions of this problem are related to the Lie superalgebras gl(1|n) and osp(1|2n).We determine the spectrum of the considered Hamiltonian in specific representations of these Lie superalgebras and discuss the results in detail.We also make the connection with the well-known canonical case.
A noncanonical quantum system, consisting of two nonrelativistic particles, interacting via a harmonic potential, is considered. The center-of-mass position and momentum operators obey the canonical commutation relations, whereas the internal variables are assumed to be the odd generators of the Lie superalgebra sl(1,2). This assumption implies a set of constraints in the phase space, which are explicitly written in the paper. All finite-dimensional irreducible representations of sl(1,2) are considered. Particular attention is paid to the physical representations, i.e., the representations corresponding to Hermitian position and momentum operators. The properties of the physical observables are investigated. In particular, the operators of the internal Hamiltonian, the relative distance, the internal momentum, and the orbital momentum commute with each other. The spectrum of these operators is finite. The distance between the constituents is preserved in time. It can take no more than three different values. For any non-negative integer or half-integer l there exists a representation, where the orbital momentum is l (in units of 2ℏ). The position of any one of the particles cannot be localized, since the operators of the coordinates do not commute with each other. The constituents are smeared with a certain probability within a finite surface, which moves with a constant velocity together with the center of mass.
Recently, several papers have been dedicated to the Wigner quantization of different Hamil-tonians. In these examples, many interesting mathematical and physical properties have been shown. Among those we have the ubiquitous relation with Lie superalgebras and their repre-sentations. In this paper, we study two one-dimensional Hamiltonians for which the Wigner quantization is related with the orthosymplectic Lie superalgebra osp(1|2). One of them, the Hamiltonian H ̂ = x̂p̂, is popular due to its connection with the Riemann zeros, discovered by Berry and Keating on the one hand and Connes on the other. The Hamiltonian of the free par-ticle, Ĥf = p̂ 2/2, is the second Hamiltonian we will examine. Wigner quantization introduces an extra representation parameter for both of these Hamiltonians. Canonical quantization is recovered by restricting to a specific representation of the Lie superalgebra osp(1|2).
We consider a quantum system consisting of a one-dimensional chain of M identical harmonic oscillators with natural frequency ω, coupled by means of springs. Such systems have been studied before, and appear in various models. In this paper, we approach the system as a Wigner quantum system, not imposing the canonical commutation relations, but using instead weaker relations following from the compatibility of Hamilton’s equations and the Heisenberg equations. In such a setting, the quantum system allows solutions in a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, with a discrete spectrum for all physical operators. We show that a class of solutions can be obtained using generators of the Lie superalgebra gl(1∣M). Then we study – from a mathematical point of view – the properties and spectra of the physical operators in a class of unitary representations of gl(1∣M). These properties are both interesting and intriguing. In particular, we can give a complete analysis of the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian and of the position and momentum operators (including multiplicities). We also study probability distributions of position operators when the quantum system is in a stationary state, and the effect of the position of one oscillator on the positions of the remaining oscillators in the chain.
Abstract. After introducing Wigner Quantum Systems, we give a short review of the one-dimensional Wigner Quantum Oscillator. Then we define the three-dimensional N-particle Wigner Quantum Oscillator, and its relation to the Lie su-peralgebra sl(1|3N). In this framework (and first for N = 1), energy, coordinates, momentum and the angular momentum of the particles are investigated. Wigner Quantum Systems (WQSs) are quantum systems in which the canonical com-mutation relations (CCRs) are replaced by a compatibility condition between the Heisenberg equations and Hamilton’s equations. By dropping the CCRs, WQSs offer a natural framework for quantum mechanics with non-commutative coordinates. Here we consider in particular the three-dimensional N-particle Wigner Quantum Oscillator (WQO). As an introductory ex-ample, some properties of the one-dimensional WQO are reviewed, with an emphasis on the different particle probability distributions (as compared to the ordinary one-dimensional os-cillator). For the three-dimensional N-particle WQO, a solution related to the Lie superalge-bra sl(1|3N) is considered. For N = 1 we investigate the operators corresponding to coordi-nates, momentum and angular momentum of the particle in a class of representation spaces.
We consider the compatibility conditions for a N-particle D-dimensional Wigner quantum oscillator. These conditions can be rewritten as certain triple relations involving anticommutators, so it is natural to look for solutions in terms of Lie superalgebras. In the recent classification of “generalized quantum statistics ” for the basic classical Lie superalgebras [1], each such statistics is characterized by a set of creation and annihilation operators plus a set of triple relations. In the present letter, we investigate which cases of this classification also lead to solutions of the compatibility conditions. Our analysis yields some known solutions and several classes of new solutions.