Abstract In the literature, there is a version of ‘quantum set theory’ studied under the name ortho-sets (also known as orthogonality spaces). An ortho-set is a set X equipped with a so-called q-distinctness relation ≠ q . In this article, we will introduce and study a version of ‘non-commutative probability measures’ (called q-states) and two versions of ‘non-commutative function algebras’ on ortho-sets. More precisely, given a Hilbert space H , a B ( H ) + -valued q-state on an ortho-set ( X , ≠ q ) is a map α : X → B ( H ) + such that for every ‘maximal pairwise q-distinct subset’ D ⊆ X , the weak ∗ -sum ∑ x ∈ D α ( x ) converges to the identity operator on H . Furthermore, we define an ortho-representation of ( X , ≠ q ) to be a map µ from X to the ortho-lattice of projections on H such that the images of two q-distinct elements of X are orthogonal, and the supremum ⋁ x ∈ E μ ( x ) for every ‘ortho-dense subset’ E ⊆ X is the identity operator on H <
Abstract In the literature, there is a version of ‘quantum set theory’ studied under the name ortho-sets (also known as orthogonality spaces). An ortho-set is a set X equipped with a so-called q-distinctness relation ≠ q . In this article, we will introduce and study a version of ‘non-commutative probability measures’ (called q-states) and two versions of ‘non-commutative function algebras’ on ortho-sets. More precisely, given a Hilbert space H , a B ( H ) + -valued q-state on an ortho-set ( X , ≠ q ) is a map α : X → B ( H ) + such that for every ‘maximal pairwise q-distinct subset’ D ⊆ X , the weak ∗ -sum ∑ x ∈ D α ( x ) converges to the identity operator on H . Furthermore, we define an ortho-representation of ( X , ≠ q ) to be a map µ from X to the ortho-lattice of projections on H such that the images of two q-distinct elements of X are orthogonal, and the supremum ⋁ x ∈ E μ ( x ) for every ‘ortho-dense subset’ E ⊆ X is the identity operator on H <
Given a quantum state in the finite-dimensional Hilbert space Cn, the range of possible values of a quantum observable is usually identified with the discrete spectrum of eigenvalues of a corresponding Hermitian matrix. Here any such observable is identified with (i) an 'ortho-measurable' function defined on the Boolean 'ortho-algebra' generated by the eigenspaces that form an orthogonal decomposition of Cn, and (ii) a 'numerically identified' orthogonal decomposition of Cn. The latter means that each subspace of the orthogonal decomposition can be uniquely identified by its own attached real number, just as each eigenspace of a Hermitian matrix can be uniquely identified by the corresponding eigenvalue. Furthermore, any density matrix on Cn is identified with a Bayesian prior 'ortho-probability' measure defined on the linear subspaces that make up the Boolean ortho-algebra induced by its eigenspaces. Then any pure quantum state is identified with a degenerate density matrix, and any mixed state with a probability measure on a set of orthogonal pure states. Finally, given any quantum observable, the relevant Bayesian posterior probabilities of measured outcomes can be found by the usual trace formula that extends Born's rule. This article is part of the theme issue 'Quantum theory and topology in models of decision making (Part 2)'.
Abstract States of quantum systems correspond to vectors in a Hilbert space and observations to closed subspaces. Hence, this logic corresponds to the algebra of closed subspaces of a Hilbert space. This can be considered as a complete lattice with orthocomplementation, but it is not distributive. It satisfies a weaker condition, the so-called orthomodularity. Later on, it was recognized that joins in this structure need not exist provided the subspaces are not orthogonal. Hence, the resulting structure need not be a lattice but a so-called orthomodular poset, more generally an orthoposet only. For orthoposets, we introduce a binary relation Δ and a binary operator d(x,y) that are generalizations of the binary relation C and the commutator c(x,y), respectively, known for orthomodular lattices. We characterize orthomodular posets among orthogonal posets. Moreover, we describe connections between the relations Δ and ↔ (the latter was introduced by P. Pták and S. Pulmannová) and the operator d(x,y). In addition, we investigate certain orthomodular posets of subsets of a finite set. In particular, we describe maximal orthomodular sublattices and Boolean subalgebras of such orthomodular posets. Finally, we study properties of Δ-blocks with respect to Boolean subalgebras and distributive subposets they include.
In "Self-adjoint Operators as Functions I: Lattices, Galois Connections, and the Spectral Order" [arXiv:1208.4724], it was shown that self-adjoint operators affiliated with a von Neumann algebra N can equivalently be described as certain real-valued functions on the projection lattice P(N) of the algebra, which we call q-observable functions. Here, we show that q-observable functions can be interpreted as generalised quantile functions for quantum observables interpreted as random variables. More generally, when L is a complete meet-semilattice, we show that L-valued cumulative distribution functions and the corresponding L-quantile functions form a Galois connection. An ordinary CDF can be written as an L-CDF composed with a state. For classical probability, one picks L=B(Ω), the complete Boolean algebra of measurable subsets modulo null sets of a measurable space Ω. For quantum probability, one uses L=P(N), the projection lattice of a nonabelian von Neumann algebra N. Moreover, using some constructions from the topos approach to quantum theory, we show that there is a joint sample space for all quantum observables, despite no-go results such as the Kochen-Specker theorem. Specifically, the spectral presheaf Σ of a von Neumann algebra N, which is not a mere set, but a presheaf (i.e., a 'varying set'), plays the role of the sample space. The relevant meet-semilattice L in this case is the complete bi-Heyting algebra of clopen subobjects of Σ. We show that using the spectral presheaf Σ and associated structures, quantum probability can be formulated in a way that is structurally very similar to classical probability.
In classical probability theory one assumes that all the events concerning a statistical experiment constitute a Boolean σ-algebra and defines a probability measure as a completely additive non-negative function which assigns the value unity for the identity element of the σ-algebra. Invariably, the σ-algebra is the Borel σ-algebra B X (i.e., the smallest σ-algebra generated by the open subsets) of a nice topological space X. Under very general conditions it turns out that all probability measures on B X constitute a convex set whose extreme points are degenerate probability measures.
Observables of a quantum system, described by self-adjoint operators in a von Neumann algebra or affiliated with it in the unbounded case, form a conditionally complete lattice when equipped with the spectral order. Using this order-theoretic structure, we develop a new perspective on quantum observables. In this first paper (of two), we show that self-adjoint operators affiliated with a von Neumann algebra can equivalently be described as certain real-valued functions on the projection lattice of the algebra, which we call q-observable functions. Bounded self-adjoint operators correspond to q-observable functions with compact image on non-zero projections. These functions, originally defined in a similar form by de Groote, are most naturally seen as adjoints (in the categorical sense) of spectral families. We show how they relate to the daseinisation mapping from the topos approach to quantum theory. Moreover, the q-observable functions form a conditionally complete lattice which is shown to be order-isomorphic to the lattice of self-adjoint operators with respect to the spectral order. In a subsequent paper, we will give an interpretation of q-observable functions in terms of quantum probability theory, and using results from the topos approach to quantum theory, we will provide a joint sample space for all quantum observables.
Quantum mechanics is usually described in the terminology of probability theory even though the properties of the probability spaces associated with it are fundamentally different from the standard ones of probability theory. For example, Kolmogorov's axioms are not general enough to encompass the non-commutative situations that arise in quantum theory. There have been many attempts to generalise these axioms to meet the needs of quantum mechanics. The focus of these attempts has been the observation, first made by Birkhoff and von Neumann (1936), that the propositions associated with a quantum-mechanical system do not form a Boolean σ-algebra. There is almost universal agreement that the probability space associated with a quantum-mechanical system is given by the set of subspaces of a separable Hilbert space, but there is disagreement over the algebraic structure that this set represents. In the most popular model for the probability space of quantum mechanics the propositions are assumed to form an orthocomplemented lattice (Mackey (1963), Jauch (1968)). The fundamental concept here is that of a partial order, that is a binary relation that is reflexive and transitive but not symmetric. The partial order is interpreted as embodying the logical concept of implication in the set of propositions associated with the physical system. Although this model provides an acceptable mathematical expression of the probabilistic structure of quantum mechanics in that the subspaces of a separable Hilbert space give a representation of an ortho-complemented lattice, it has several deficiencies which will be discussed later.