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QUANTUM MECHANICS AS A SIMPLE GENERALIZATION OF CLASSICAL MECHANICS ∗

Published Jan 1, 2002• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

A motivation is given for expressing classical mechanics in terms of diagonal projection matrices and diagonal density matrices. Then quantum mechanics is seen to be a simple generalization in which one replaces the diagonal real matrices with suitable Hermitian matrices.

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One of us has shown that the statistical properties of the measurements of a quantum mechanical system assume their simplest form when expressed in terms of a certain hypercomplex algebra which is commutative but not associative.1 This algebra differs from the non-commutative but associative matrix algebra usually considered in that one is concerned with the commutative expression ½(A × B + B × A) instead of the associative product A × B of two matrices. It was conjectured that the laws of this commutative algebra would form a suitable starting point for a generalization of the present quantum mechanical theory. The need of such a generalization arises from the (probably) fundamental difficulties resulting when one attempts to apply quantum mechanics to questions in relativistic and nuclear phenomena.
The possibility of generalizing quantum mechanics in such a way as to retain its predictive results, while comprehending additional solutions, is examined. It is found that this can be done through a perfected formal correspondence with Hamilton-Jacobi mechanics, by which one is led to consider generalizations of the Heisenberg postulate of the form ${p}_{k}{q}_{j}\ensuremath{-}{q}_{j}{p}_{k}=S{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{\mathrm{jk}}$, where SSS is a quantum analog of Hamilton's principal function. The formalism is shown to be equivalent to a simple change in Hamiltonian, with transformed momentum operators satisfying conventional commutation relations, and with an additional relationship involving formal analogs of the classical "initial constants" adjoined. A particular choice of $S(=\frac{\ensuremath{\hbar}}{i})$ leads to a theory identical with wave mechanics a part from a constant (unobservable) phase factor on the wave function. The fact that SSS may possess other, nonconstant values, demonstrated by a specific example, suggests the ability of the mechanical equations to describe a broader class of physical states than has hitherto been investigated.
Effect of replacing the classical game object with a quantum object is analyzed. We find this replacement requires a throughout reformation of the framework of Game Theory. If we use density matrix to represent strategy state of players, they are full-structured density matrices with off-diagonal elements for the new games, while reduced diagonal density matrix will be enough for the traditional games on classical objects. In such formalism, the payoff function of every player becomes Hermitian Operator acting on the density matrix. Therefore, the new game looks really like Quantum Mechanics while the traditional game becomes Classical Mechanics.
Abstract For present purposes, the first thing to recall about quantum mechanics is that all dynamical quantities, instead of being functions of the location of a system in phase space as in classical mechanics, are now represented by operators in a Hilbert space of quantum states. In particular, the quantum analog of the classical phase space distribution function is the quantum mechanical density matrix. Since this is seldom discussed in introductory texts on either quantum mechanics or statistical mechanics, it may be helpful to summarize some of its basic properties.
The BRST–antiBRST invariant path integral formulation of classical mechanics of Gozzi et al. is generalized to pseudomechanics. Projections to physical propagators by BRST–antiBRST invariant boundary conditions are considered. The formulation is also viewed from recent group theoretical results within BRST–antiBRST invariant theories. A natural bracket expressed in terms of BRST and antiBRST charges in the extended formulation is shown to be equal to the Poisson bracket. Several remarks on the operator formulation are made.