Star-polarization: A natural link between phase space representation and operator representation of quantum mechanics

The method of *-polarization connects phase space mechanics to the usual operator formulation of quantum theory. A *-polarization is a linear submanifold of the space of C functions on phase space. Elements of a *-polarization are in direct correspondence with the Schroedinger wave functions and this correspondence induces the Weyl correspondence between classical observables and operators. All generalized Moyal algebras admit *-polarizations and a general method is thus available for translating *-quantization into operator language.     

A Kinetic Model of Quantum Jumps

A new class of models describing the dissipative dynamics of an open quantum system S by means of random time evolutions of pure states in its Hilbert space is considered. The random evolutions are linear and defined by Poisson processes. At the random Poissonian times, the wavefunction experiences discontinuous changes (quantum jumps). These changes are implemented by some non-unitary linear operators satisfying a locality condition. If the Hilbert space of S is infinite dimensional, the models involve an infinite number of independent Poisson processes and the total frequency of jumps may be infinite. We show that the random evolutions in are then given by some almost-surely defined unbounded random evolution operators obtained by a limit procedure. The average evolution of the observables of S is given by a quantum dynamical semigroup, its generator having the Lindblad form.⁽¹⁾ The relevance of the models in the field of electronic transport in Anderson insulators is emphasised.     

States in the Hilbert space formulation and in the phase space formulation of quantum mechanics

We consider the problem of testing whether a given matrix in the Hilbert space formulation of quantum mechanics or a function considered in the phase space formulation of quantum theory represents a quantum state. We propose several practical criteria for recognising states in these two versions of quantum physics. After minor modifications, they can be applied to check positivity of any operators acting in a Hilbert space or positivity of any functions from an algebra with a ∗$\ast$-product of Weyl type.     

Algebras of Operators on Holomorphic Functions and Applications

We develop the theory of operators defined on a space of holomorphic functions. First, we characterize such operators by a suitable space of holomorphic functions. Next, we show that every operator is a limit of a sequence of convolution and multiplication operators. Finally, we define the exponential of an operator which permits us to solve some quantum stochastic differential equations.     

Quantum Versus Stochastic Processes and the Role of Complex Numbers

We argue that the complex numbers are an irreducible object of quantum probability: this can be seen in the measurements of geometric phases that have no classical probabilistic analogue. Having the complex phases as primitive ingredient implies that we need to accept nonadditive probabilities. This has the desirable consequence of removing constraints of standard theorems about the possibility of describing quantum theory with commutative variables. Motivated by the formalism of consistent histories and keeping an analogy with the theory of stochastic processes, we develop a (statistical) theory of quantum processes: they are characterized by the introduction of a density matrix on phase space paths (it thus includes phase information) and fully reproduces quantum mechanical predictions. We can write quantum differential equations (in analogy to Langevin equation) that could be interpreted as referring to individual quantum systems. We describe the reconstruction theorem by which a quantum process can yield the standard Hilbert space structure if the Markov property is imposed. We discuss the relevance of our results for the interpretation of quantum theory (a sample space is possible if probabilities are nonadditive) and quantum gravity (the Hilbert space arises here after the consideration of a background causal structure).     

Field theoretical construction of an infinite set of quantum commuting operators related with soliton equations

The quantum version of an infinite set of polynomial conserved quantities of a class of soliton equations is discussed from the point of view of naive continuum field theory. By using techniques of two dimensional field theories, we show that an infinite set of quantum commuting operators can be constructed explicitly from the knowledge of its classical counterparts. The quantum operators are so constructed as to coincide with the classical ones in the 0 limit (; Planck's constant divided by 2). It is expected that the explicit forms of these operators would shed some light on the structure of the infinite dimensional Lie algebras which underlie a certain class of quantum integrable systems.     

Noncommutative coordinate picture of the quantum phase space

We illustrate an isomorphic representation of the observable algebra for quantum mechanics in terms of the functions on the projective Hilbert space, and its Hilbert space analog, with a noncommutative product in terms of explicit coordinates and discuss the physical and dynamical picture. The isomorphism is then used as a base for the translation of the differential symplectic geometry of the infinite dimensional manifolds onto the observable algebra as a noncommutative geometry. Hence, we obtain the latter from the physical theory itself. We have essentially an extended formalism of the Schr̎odinger versus Heisenberg picture which we describe mathematically as like a coordinate map from the phase space, for which we have presented argument to be seen as the quantum model of the physical space, to the noncommutative geometry coordinated by the six position and momentum operators. The observable algebra is taken essentially as an algebra of formal functions on the latter operators. The work formulates the intuitive idea that the noncommutative geometry can be seen as an alternative, noncommutative coordinate, picture of familiar quantum phase space, at least so long as the symplectic geometry is concerned.     

Uniqueness of the physical vacuum and the Wightman functions in the infinite volume limit for some non polynomial interactions

We consider quantum field theoretical models inn dimensional space-time given by interaction densities which are bounded functions of an ultraviolet cut-off boson field. Using methods of euclidean Markov field theory and of classical statistical mechanics, we construct the infinite volume imaginary and real time Wightman functions as limits of the corresponding quantities for the space cut-off models. In the physical Hilbert space, the space-time translations are represented by strongly continuous unitary groups and the generator of time translationsH is positive and has a unique, simple lowest eigenvalue zero, with eigenvector , which is the unique state invariant under space-time translations. The imaginary time Wightman functions and the infinite volume vacuum energy density are given as analytic functions of the coupling constant. The Wightman functions have cluster properties also with respect to space translations.     

Quantum dressing orbits on compact groups

The quantum double is shown to imply the dressing transformation on quantum compact groups and the quantum Iwasawa decompositon in the general case. Quantum dressing orbits are described explicitly as *-algebras. The dual coalgebras consisting of differential operators are related to the quantum Weyl elements. Besides, the differential geometry on a quantum leaf allows a remarkably simple construction of irreducible *-representations of the algebras of quantum functions. Representation spaces then consist of analytic functions on classical phase spaces. These representations are also interpreted in the framework of quantization in the spirit of Berezin applied to symplectic leaves on classical compact groups. Convenient coherent states are introduced and a correspondence between classical and quantum observables is given.     

Stochastic phase spaces and master Liouville spaces in statistical mechanics

The concept of probability space is generalized to that of stochastic probability space. This enables the introduction of representations of quantum mechanics on stochastic phase spaces. The resulting formulation of quantum statistical mechanics in terms of -distribution functions bears a remarkable resemblance to its classical counterpart. Furthermore, both classical and quantum statistical mechanics can be formulated in one and the same master Liouville space overL ²(). A joint derivation of a classical and quantum Boltzman equation provides an illustration of the practical uses of these formalisms.Supported in part by an NRC grant.     

Low-temperature phase diagrams of quantum lattice systems. I. Stability for quantum perturbations of classical systems with finitely-many ground states

Starting from classical lattice systems ind2 dimensions with a regular zerotemperature phase diagram, involving a finite number of periodic ground states, we prove that adding a small quantum perturbation and/or increasing the temperature produce only smooth deformations of their phase diagrams. The quantum perturbations can involve bosons or fermions and can be of infinite range but decaying exponentially fast with the size of the bonds. For fermions, the interactions must be given by monomials of even degree in creation and annihilation operators. Our methods can be applied to some anyonic systems as well. Our analysis is based on an extension of Pirogov-Sinai theory to contour expansions ind+1 dimensions obtained by iteration of the Duhamel formula.     

Quantum mechanics of ‘free’ spin-1/2 particles in an expanding universe

This paper deals with the gravi-quantum mechanical interaction on the level of the first quantisation and in the framework of a metric theory of gravitation (no field quantisation). The interaction is introduced by embedding the quantum mechanics of the otherwise unaffected (i.e. free) spin-1/2 particle in the given curved space-time of the 3-flat expanding Robertson-Walker universe. The metric acts thereby as an external field. The corresponding Hilbert space formalism is established in interpreting the generally covariant theory of the Dirac field in the Riemann space in question as the Dirac representation of the spin-1/2 particle in the Schrödinger picture. The evolution operator is then extracted out of the general relativistic Dirac equation, while contractions of the symmetric energy momentum tensor with the tetrad vectors of the reference system lead to the operators of energy, linear momentum and total angular momentum. The temporal behaviour of the corresponding expectation values is calculated.     

Stochastic and quantum space-time metrics and the weak-field limit

In this review we present a simple method of introducing stochastic and quantum metrics into gravitational theory at short distances in terms of small fluctuations around a classical background space-time. We consider only residual effects due to the stochastic (or quantum) theory of gravity and use a perturbative stochastization (or quantization) method. By using the general covariance and correspondence principles, we reconstruct the theory of gravitational, mechanical, electromagnetic, and quantum mechanical processes and tensor algebra in the space-time with stochastic and quantum metrics. Some consequences of the theory are also considered, in particular, it indicates that the value of the fundamental lengthl lies in the interval 10^–23l10^–22 cm.     

On the detectabillity limit of coherent optical signals in thermal radiation

The problem of detecting a completely known coherent optical signal in a thermal background radiation is considered. The problem is a quantum mechanical analog of detection of a known signal in Gaussian noise. The quantum detection counterpart is formulated in terms of a pair of density operators and a solution is shown to exist. A perturbation solution is obtained by making use of a reproducing kernel Hilbert space of entire functions. The solution is particularly applicable to optical frequencies, where the effect of thermal radiation is small, and it is shown to converge to known results at zero thermal radiation. Curves are generated showing the detectability limit at optical frequencies. Also considered is the problem of finding an operator that maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio, defined for quantum detection in analogy with the classical theory. For a coherent signal with random phase, the operator that maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio is identicial to the one obtained by applying the Neyman Pearson criterion, thereby establishing a complete analogy with the classical detection theory. For a signal with known phase, however, the analogy breaks down in the limit of zero thermal radiation. In that case, it is shown that an operator that maximizes the classical signal-to-noise ratio does not exist.A part of this paper has been submitted to the University of California, Los Angeles, in partial satisfaction of the Ph.D. requirement.     

Measurement theory in the Lax-Phillips formalism

It is shown that the application of the Lax-Phillips scattering theory to quantum mechanics provides a natural framework for the realization of the ideas of the Many-Hilbert-Space theory of Machida and Namiki to describe the development of decoherence in the process of measurement. We show that if the quantum mechanical evolution is pointwise in time, then decoherence occurs only if the Hamiltonian is time-dependent. If the evolution is not pointwise in time (as in Liouville space), then the decoherence may occur even for closed systems. These conclusions apply as well to the general problem of mixing of states.     

Quantization of the kicked rotator with dissipation

The effect of dissipation on a quantum system exhibiting chaos in its classical limit is studied by coupling the kicked quantum rotator to a reservoir with angular momentum exchange. A master equation is derived which maps the density matrix from one kick to the subsequent one. Several limiting cases are investigated. The limits of 0 and of vanishing dissipation serve as tests of consistency, in reproducing the maps of the classical kicked damped rotator and of the kicked quantum rotator, respectively. In the limit of strong dissipation the classical map reduces to a circle map. A quantum map corresponding to the circle map is therefore obtained in this limit. In the limit of infinite dissipation the density matrix becomes independent of the initial condition after a single application of the map, allowing for a simple analytical solution for the density matrix. In the semi-classical limit the quantum map reduces to a classical map with quantum mechanically determined classical noise terms, which are evaluated. For sufficiently small dissipation the physical character of the leading quantum corrections changes. Quantum mechanical interference effects then render the Wigner distribution negative in some parts of phase space and prevent its interpretation in classical terms. Numerical results will be presented in a subsequent paper.     

Semiclassical states in loop quantum gravity: an introduction

Unifying general relativity and quantum mechanics is a great challenge left to us by Einstein. To face this challenge, considerable progress has been made in non-perturbative canonical (loop) quantum gravity during the past 20 years. The kinematical Hilbert space of the quantum theory is constructed rigorously. However, the semiclassical analysis of the theory is still a crucial and open issue. In this review, we first introduce our work on constructing a semiclassical weave state, using the [ω] operator on the kinematical Hilbert space of loop quantum gravity. Then we give an introduction to the two different approaches currently investigated for constructing coherent states in the kinematical Hilbert space. The current status of semiclassical analysis in loop quantum gravity is then summarized.     

Field operators and their spectral properties in finite-dimensional quantum field theory

In Ref. 1 we have considered the finite-dimensional quantum mechanics. There the quantum mechanical space of states wasV=C ^r. It is known that the second quantization of this space is the space of square-summable functions of finite number of variables(L ²(R^r,dx)) (Segal isomorphism). Creation and annihilation operators were introduced in Ref. 1, and the former coincided with the usual position and momentum operators in the conventional quantum mechanics. In this paper we shall investigate the spectral properties of field operators. We shall show that the isomorphism between the exponential ofV andL ²(R^r,dx) can be understood as the decomposition by generalized eigenvectors of field operators (Fourier transform).