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CRC Press eBooks

Nonlinear Extension of Quantum Mechanics: Remarks and Recent Results

H. D. Doebner, Gerald A. Goldin

Published Nov 30, 2003• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We discuss the problem of extending the framework of quantum mechanics so that observables are represented by nonlinear operators in a Hilbert space or manifold. Our motivation includes the derivation of certain nonlinear Schrödinger equations from diffeomorphism group representations. In this context we review some groups of nonlinear gauge transformations.

DOI
10.1201/9781482269079-103

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In earlier work we proposed a family of nonlinear time-evolution equations for quantum mechanics associated with certain unitary group representations [Doebner and Goldin, Phys. Lett. A 162, 397 (1992); J. Phys. A 27, 1771 (1994)]. Such nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations are expected to describe irreversible and dissipative quantum systems. Here we introduce and justify physically the group of nonlinear gauge transformations necessary to interpret our equations. We determine the parameters that are actually gauge invariant and describe some of their properties. Our conclusions contradict, at least in part, the view that any nonlinearity in quantum mechanics leads to unphysical predictions. We also show how time-dependent nonlinear gauge transformations connect our equations to those proposed by Kostin [J. Chem. Phys. 57, 3589 (1972)] and by Bialynicki-Birula and Mycielski [Ann. Phys. 100, 62 (1976)]. We believe our approach to be a fundamental generalization of the usual notions about gauge transformations in quantum mechanics. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

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WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks•Jan 1, 1995•4 citations
We discuss the problem of extending the framework of quantum mechanics so that observables are represented by nonlinear operators in a Hilbert space or manifold. Our motivation includes the derivation of certain nonlinear Schrödinger equations from diffeomorphism group representations. In this context we review some groups of nonlinear gauge transformations.
About 15 years ago, we (Heinz-Dietrich Doebner and I) proposed a special type of nonlinear modification of the usual Schrödinger time-evolution equation in quantum mechanics. Our equation was motivated by certain unitary representations of the group of diffeomorphisms of physical space, in the framework of either nonrelativistic local current algebra or quantum Borel kinematics. Subsequently, we developed this and related approaches to nonlinearity in quantum mechanics considerably further, to incorporate theories of measurement, groups of nonlinear gauge transformations, symmetry and invariance properties, unification of a large family of nonlinear perturbations, and possible physical contexts for quantum nonlinearity. Some of our results and highlights of some open questions are summarized.
Nonlinear Dirac equations (NLDE) are derived through a group N^2 of nonlinear (gauge) transformation acting in the corresponding state space. The construction generalises a construction for nonlinear Schrödinger equations. To relate N^2 with physically motivated principles we assume: locality (i.e. it contains no explicit derivative and no derivatives of the wave function), separability (i.e. it acts on product states componentwise) and Poincaré invariance. Furthermore we want that a positional density is invariant under N^2. Such nonlinear transformations yield NLDE which describe physically equivalent systems. To get 'new' systems, we extend this NLDE (gauge extension) and present a family of NLDE which is a slight nonlinear generalisation of the Dirac equation. We discuss and comment the fact that nonlinear evolutions are not consistent with the usual framework of quantum theory. To develop a corresponding extended framework one needs models for nonlinear evolutions which also indicate possible physical consequences of nonlinearities.
Beginning with ordinary quantum mechanics for spinless particles, together with the hypothesis that all experimental measurements consist of positional measurements at different times, we characterize directly a class of nonlinear quantum theories physically equivalent to linear quantum mechanics through nonlinear gauge transformations. We show that under two physically motivated assumptions, these transformations are uniquely determined: they are exactly the group of time-dependent, nonlinear gauge transformations introduced previously for a family of nonlinear Schrödinger equations. The general equation in this family, including terms considered by Kostin, by Bialynicki-Birula and Mycielski, and by Doebner and Goldin, with time-dependent coefficients, can be obtained from the linear Schrödinger equation through gauge transformation and a subsequent process we call gauge generalization. We thus unify, on fundamental grounds, a rather diverse set of nonlinear time evolutions in quantum mechanics.
In earlier work we proposed a family of nonlinear time-evolution equations for quantum mechanics associated with certain unitary group representations [Doebner and Goldin, Phys. Lett. A 162, 397 (1992); J. Phys. A 27, 1771 (1994)]. Such nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations are expected to describe irreversible and dissipative quantum systems. Here we introduce and justify physically the group of nonlinear gauge transformations necessary to interpret our equations. We determine the parameters that are actually gauge invariant and describe some of their properties. Our conclusions contradict, at least in part, the view that any nonlinearity in quantum mechanics leads to unphysical predictions. We also show how time-dependent nonlinear gauge transformations connect our equations to those proposed by Kostin [J. Chem. Phys. 57, 3589 (1972)] and by Bialynicki-Birula and Mycielski [Ann. Phys. 100, 62 (1976)]. We believe our approach to be a fundamental generalization of the usual notions about gauge transformations in quantum mechanics. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Intrinsically irreversible representations of unstable quantum systems, I. Antoniou quantum mechanical arrows of time, A. Bohm isotropic harmonic oscillator on the quantum euclidean space, G. Fiore relevant and irrelevant nonlinear schrodinger equation, N. Gisin diffeomorphism groups and nonlinear quantum mechanics, G.A. Goldin from Hamiltonian mechanics to nonlinear Schrodinger equations, J.-D. Hennig nonlinear Schrodinger dynamics and nonlinear observables, W. Lucke nonlinear gauge transformations and the Doebner-Goldin equation, P. Nattermann chaos and the limit of classical and quantum mechanics, T. Petrosky why irreversibility? the formulation of classical and quantum mechanics for unstable dynamical systems, I. Prigogine harmonic oscillators on quantum space, S. Watamura. (Part Contents).