Abstract In classical statistical mechanics, physical states (probability measures) are embedded in the Banach algebra of complex Borel measures on phase space, where the algebra product is realized by convolution. Convolution is state-preserving; namely, the convolution of two classical states is a state too. This is a special case of the convolution algebra of all complex measures on a locally compact group. A natural problem is whether an analogous structure may emerge in the quantum setting. By resorting to a group-theoretical construction, a quantum counterpart of the convolution of probability measures — the twirled product, or quantum convolution — can be introduced, yielding a group-covariant, associative binary operation on the states of a quantum system, that preserves the convex structure of this set. The analogy with the classical setting becomes striking in the case where the symmetry group is abelian. We focus, in particular, on the quantum convolution product stemming from the group of phase-space translations.
Abstract In classical statistical mechanics, physical states (probability measures) are embedded in the Banach algebra of complex Borel measures on phase space, where the algebra product is realized by convolution. Convolution is state-preserving; namely, the convolution of two classical states is a state too. This is a special case of the convolution algebra of all complex measures on a locally compact group. A natural problem is whether an analogous structure may emerge in the quantum setting. By resorting to a group-theoretical construction, a quantum counterpart of the convolution of probability measures — the twirled product, or quantum convolution — can be introduced, yielding a group-covariant, associative binary operation on the states of a quantum system, that preserves the convex structure of this set. The analogy with the classical setting becomes striking in the case where the symmetry group is abelian. We focus, in particular, on the quantum convolution product stemming from the group of phase-space translations.
A quantum stochastic product is a binary operation on the space of quantum states preserving the convex structure. We describe a class of associative stochastic products, the twirled products, that have interesting connections with quantum measurement theory. Constructing such a product involves a square integrable group representation, a probability measure and a fiducial state. By extending a twirled product to the full space of trace class operators, one obtains a Banach algebra. This algebra is commutative if the underlying group is abelian. In the case of the group of translations on phase space, one gets a quantum convolution algebra, a quantum counterpart of the classical phase-space convolution algebra. The peculiar role of the fiducial state characterizing each quantum convolution product is highlighted.
Abstract A quantum stochastic product is defined as a binary operation on the convex set of quantum states that preserves the convex structure. We discuss a class of group-covariant, associative stochastic products, the twirled products, having remarkable connections with quantum measurement theory and with the theory of open quantum systems. By extending this binary operation from the density operators to the full Banach space of trace class operators, one obtains a Banach algebra. In the case where the covariance group is the group of phase-space translations, one has a quantum convolution algebra. The expression of the quantum convolution in terms of Wigner distributions and of the associated characteristic functions is analyzed.
Abstract A notion of stochastic product of quantum states — a binary operation on the set of density operators preserving the convex structure — is discussed. We describe, in particular, a class of group-covariant, associative stochastic products: the twirled products. Each binary operation in this class can be constructed by means of a square integrable projective representation of a locally compact group, a probability measure on this group and a fiducial density operator in the Hilbert space of the representation. By suitably extending this operation from the convex set of density operators to the full Banach space of trace class operators, one obtains a Banach algebra, which is commutative in the case where the relevant group is abelian.
Abstract We introduce the notion of stochastic product as a binary operation on the convex set of quantum states (the density operators) that preserves the convex structure, and we investigate its main consequences. We consider, in particular, stochastic products that are covariant wrt a symmetry action of a locally compact group. We then construct an interesting class of group-covariant, associative stochastic products, the so-called twirled stochastic products . Every binary operation in this class is generated by a triple formed by a square integrable projective representation of a locally compact group, by a probability measure on that group and by a fiducial density operator acting in the carrier Hilbert space of the representation. The salient properties of such a product are studied. It is argued, in particular, that, extending this binary operation from the density operators to the whole Banach space of trace class operators, this space becomes a Banach algebra, a so-called twirled stochastic algebra . This algebra is shown to be commutative in the case where the relevant group is abelian. In particular, the commutative stochastic products generated by the Weyl system are treated in detail. Finally, the physical interpretation of twirled stochastic products and various interesting connections with the literature are discussed.
A function of positive type can be defined as a positive functional on a convolution algebra of a locally compact group. In the case where the group is abelian, by Bochner's theorem a function of positive type is, up to normalization, the Fourier transform of a probability measure. Therefore, considering the group of translations on phase space, a suitably normalized phase-space function of positive type can be regarded as a realization of a classical state. Thus, it may be called a function of classical positive type . Replacing the ordinary convolution on phase space with the twisted convolution, one obtains a noncommutative algebra of functions whose positive functionals we may call functions of quantum positive type . In fact, by a quantum version of Bochner's theorem, a continuous function of quantum positive type is, up to normalization, the (symplectic) Fourier transform of a Wigner quasi-probability distribution; hence, it can be regarded as a phase-space realization of a quantum state. Playing with functions of positive type—classical and quantum—one is led in a natural way to consider a class of semigroups of operators, the classical-quantum semigroups . The physical meaning of these mathematical objects is unveiled via quantization, so obtaining a class of quantum dynamical semigroups that, borrowing terminology from quantum information science, may be called classical-noise semigroups .
This paper presents a generalization of quantum mechanics from conventional Hilbert space formalism to Banach space one. We construct quantum theory starting with any complex Banach space beyond a complex Hilbert space, through using a basic fact that a complex Banach space always admits a semi-inner product. Precisely, in a complex Banach space X with a given semi-inner product, a pure state is defined by Lumer \cite{Lumer1961} to be a bounded linear functional on the space of bounded operators determined by a normalized element of X under the semi-inner product, and then the state space S(X) of the system is the weakly closed convex set spanned by all pure states. Based on Lumer's notion of the state, we associate a quantum system with a complex Banach space X equipped with a fixed semi-inner product, and then define a physical event at a quantum state ω∈S(X) to be a projection P (bounded operator such that P2=P) in X satisfying the positivity condition 0≤ω(P)≤1, and a physical quantity at a quantum state ω to be a spectral operator of scalar type with real spectrum so that the associated spectral projections are all physical events at ω. The Born formula for measurement of a physical quantity is the natural pairing of operators with linear functionals satisfying the probability conservation law. A time evolution of the system is governed by a one-parameter group of invertible spectral operators determined by a scalar type operator with the real spectrum, which satisfies the Schrödinger equation. Our formulation is just a generalization of the Dirac-von Neumann formalism of quantum mechanics to the Banach space setting. We include some examples for illustration.