Quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames: Time-dependent rotations and loop prolongations

This is the fourth in a series of papers on developing a formulation of quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames. This formulation is grounded in a class of unitary cocycle representations of what we have called the Galilean line group, the generalization of the Galilei group to include transformations amongst non-inertial reference frames. These representations show that in quantum mechanics, just as the case in classical mechanics, the transformations to accelerating reference frames give rise to fictitious forces. In previous work, we have shown that there exist representations of the Galilean line group that uphold the non-relativistic equivalence principle as well as representations that violate the equivalence principle. In these previous studies, the focus was on linear accelerations. In this paper, we undertake an extension of the formulation to include rotational accelerations. We show that the incorporation of rotational accelerations requires a class of loop prolongations of the Galilean line group and their unitary cocycle representations. We recover the centrifugal and Coriolis force effects from these loop representations. Loops are more general than groups in that their multiplication law need not be associative. Hence, our broad theoretical claim is that a Galilean quantum theory that holds in arbitrary non-inertial reference frames requires going beyond groups and group representations, the well-established framework for implementing symmetry transformations in quantum mechanics.     

Unitary cocycle representations of the Galilean line group: Quantum mechanical principle of equivalence

We present a formalism of Galilean quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames and discuss its implications for the equivalence principle. This extension of quantum mechanics rests on the Galilean line group, the semidirect product of the real line and the group of analytic functions from the real line to the Euclidean group in three dimensions. This group provides transformations between all inertial and non-inertial reference frames and contains the Galilei group as a subgroup. We construct a certain class of unitary representations of the Galilean line group and show that these representations determine the structure of quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames. Our representations of the Galilean line group contain the usual unitary projective representations of the Galilei group, but have a more intricate cocycle structure. The transformation formula for the Hamiltonian under the Galilean line group shows that in a non-inertial reference frame it acquires a fictitious potential energy term that is proportional to the inertial mass, suggesting the equivalence of inertial mass and gravitational mass in quantum mechanics.     

Quantum mechanics in noninertial reference frames: Relativistic accelerations and fictitious forces

One-particle systems in relativistically accelerating reference frames can be associated with a class of unitary representations of the group of arbitrary coordinate transformations, an extension of the Wigner–Bargmann definition of particles as the physical realization of unitary irreducible representations of the Poincaré group. Representations of the group of arbitrary coordinate transformations become necessary to define unitary operators implementing relativistic acceleration transformations in quantum theory because, unlike in the Galilean case, the relativistic acceleration transformations do not themselves form a group. The momentum operators that follow from these representations show how the fictitious forces in noninertial reference frames are generated in quantum theory.     

Conformally covariant vector–spinor field in de Sitter space

Unlike the Lorentz transformation which replaces the Galilean transformation among inertial frames at high relative velocities, there seems to be no such a consensus in the case of coordinate transformation between inertial frames and uniformly rotating ones. There have been some attempts to generalize the Galilean rotational transformation to high rotational velocities. Here we introduce a modified version of one of these transformations proposed by Philip Franklin in 1922. The modified version is shown to resolve some of the drawbacks of the Franklin transformation, specially with respect to the corresponding spacetime metric in the rotating frame. This new transformation introduces non-inertial eccentric observers on a uniformly rotating disk and the corresponding metric in the rotating frame is shown to be consistent with the one obtained through Galilean rotational transformation for points close to the rotation axis. Employing the threading formulation of spacetime decomposition, spatial distances and time intervals in the spacetime metric of a rotating observer’s frame are also discussed.     

Electromagnetic and Force Field Equations

In classical physics the electromagnetic equations are described by Maxwell's equations. Maxwell's equations proved to be invariant under gauge, or Lorentz transformations. Also, Einstein's equations of the special theory of relativity are invariant under Lorentz transformations. On the other hand classical mechanics and quantum mechanics laws are invariant under Galilean transformations. This means that, there are two different dynamical structures describing our universe. Einstein's unified field theory failled in putting our universe in one dynamical structure. New electromagnetic and force field equations are going to be derived. They have the same shape like Maxwell's equations, but with different dynamical structure. Those equations are invariant under Galilean transformations and in the density matrix formalism of quantum mechanics.     

Twisting of Quantum Differentials and¶the Planck Scale Hopf Algebra

We show that the crossed modules and bicovariant differential calculi on two Hopf algebras related by a cocycle twist are in 1-1 correspondence. In particular, for quantum groups which are cocycle deformation-quantisations of classical groups the calculi are obtained as deformation-quantisations of the classical ones. As an application, we classify all bicovariant differential calculi on the Planck scale Hopf algebra . This is a quantum group which has an limit as the functions on a classical but non-Abelian group and a limit as flat space quantum mechanics. We further study the noncommutative differential geometry and Fourier theory for this Hopf algebra as a toy model for Planck scale physics. The Fourier theory implements a T-duality-like self-duality. The noncommutative geometry turns out to be singular when and is therefore not visible in flat space quantum mechanics alone. Received: 28 October 1998 / Accepted: 7 March 1999     

Classical formulation of quantum mechanics

The concept of quantum state is given in terms of classical probability for position in squeezed and rotated classical reference frames in phase space. Stationary states and energy levels of the quantum system are obtained in a classical formulation of quantum mechanics. The positive probability density of the harmonic oscillator position is obtained by solving a new eigenvalue equation of standard quantum mechanics instead of the Schrödinger equation. The orthogonality and completeness relations are found for the eigendistributions.     

Classical Mechanics Is not the ħ, → 0 Limit of Quantum Mechanics

Both the set of quantum states and the set of classical states described by symplectic tomographic probability distributions (tomograms) are studied. It is shown that the sets have a common part but there exist tomograms of classical states which are not admissible in quantum mechanics and, vice versa, there exist tomograms of quantum states which are not admissible in classical mechanics. The role of different transformations of reference frames in the phase space of classical and quantum systems (scaling and rotation) determining the admissibility of tomograms as well as the role of quantum uncertainty relations are elucidated. The union of all admissible tomograms of both quantum and classical states is discussed in the context of interaction of quantum and classical systems. Negative probabilities in classical and quantum mechanics corresponding to tomograms of classical and quantum states are compared with properties of nonpositive and nonnegative density operators, respectively. The role of the semigroup of scaling transforms of the Planck's constant is discussed.     

On the notion of Weyl system

We review the standard notion of Weyl system, which stems from the Weyl formulation of the canonical commutation relations of quantum mechanics, and propose an alternative definition based on the theory of projective representations. Next, we discuss some conceptual advantages of this alternative definition. Finally, we introduce a notion of physical equivalence of group representations and propose a further ‘purely conceptual’ definition of Weyl system based on this notion.     

Contrasting Classical and Quantum Vacuum States in Non-inertial Frames

Classical electron theory with classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation (stochastic electrodynamics) is the classical theory which most closely approximates quantum electrodynamics. Indeed, in inertial frames, there is a general connection between classical field theories with classical zero-point radiation and quantum field theories. However, this connection does not extend to noninertial frames where the time parameter is not a geodesic coordinate. Quantum field theory applies the canonical quantization procedure (depending on the local time coordinate) to a mirror-walled box, and, in general, each non-inertial coordinate frame has its own vacuum state. In particular, there is a distinction between the “Minkowski vacuum” for a box at rest in an inertial frame and a “Rindler vacuum” for an accelerating box which has fixed spatial coordinates in an (accelerating) Rindler frame. In complete contrast, the spectrum of random classical zero-point radiation is based upon symmetry principles of relativistic spacetime; in empty space, the correlation functions depend upon only the geodesic separations (and their coordinate derivatives) between the spacetime points. The behavior of classical zero-point radiation in a noninertial frame is found by tensor transformations and still depends only upon the geodesic separations, now expressed in the non-inertial coordinates. It makes no difference whether a box of classical zero-point radiation is gradually or suddenly set into uniform acceleration; the radiation in the interior retains the same correlation function except for small end-point (Casimir) corrections. Thus in classical theory where zero-point radiation is defined in terms of geodesic separations, there is nothing physically comparable to the quantum distinction between the Minkowski and Rindler vacuum states. It is also noted that relativistic classical systems with internal potential energy must be spatially extended and can not be point systems. The classical analysis gives no grounds for the “heating effects of acceleration through the vacuum” which appear in the literature of quantum field theory. Thus this distinction provides (in principle) an experimental test to distinguish the two theories.     

Deterrents to a Theory of Quantum Gravity

As shown previously, quantum mechanics directly violates the weak equivalence principle in general, and thus indirectly violates the strong equivalence principle in all dimensions. The present paper shows that quantum mechanics also directly violates the strong equivalence principle unless it is arbitrarily abetted in hindsight. Vital domains are shown to exist in which quantum gravity would be non-applicable. There are classical subtleties in which the strong equivalence principle appears to be violated, but is not. Neutron free fall interference experiments in a gravitational field are examined, as is Galileo's falling body assertion and the misconception it leads to.     

Equivalence principle for scalar forces

The equivalence of inertial and gravitational masses is a defining feature of general relativity. Here, we clarify the status of the equivalence principle for interactions mediated by a universally coupled scalar, motivated partly by recent attempts to modify gravity at cosmological distances. Although a universal scalar-matter coupling is not mandatory, once postulated, it is stable against classical and quantum renormalizations in the matter sector. The coupling strength itself is subject to renormalization, of course. The scalar equivalence principle is violated only for objects for which either the graviton self-interaction or the scalar self-interaction is important--the first applies to black holes, while the second type of violation is avoided if the scalar is Galilean symmetric.     

Canonical transformations in quantum mechanics

This paper presents the general theory of canonical transformations of coordinates in quantum mechanics. First, the theory is developed in the formalism of phase space quantum mechanics. It is shown that by transforming a star-product, when passing to a new coordinate system, observables and states transform as in classical mechanics, i.e., by composing them with a transformation of coordinates. Then the developed formalism of coordinate transformations is transferred to a standard formulation of quantum mechanics. In addition, the developed theory is illustrated on examples of particular classes of quantum canonical transformations.     

Unitary equivalence of different bipartite entangled states under unitary transformations

The unitary equivalence of different bipartite entangled states with continuous variables under unitary transformations are investigated. With the help of the technique of integration within an ordered product of operators, the corresponding unitary operators are also derived. These results may deepen people's understanding to the various bipartite entangled states, and enrich the representations and transformations theory in quantum mechanics.     

Conservation laws for variable coefficient nonlinear wave equations with power nonlinearities

Conservation laws for a class of variable coefficient nonlinear wave equations with power nonlinearities are investigated.The usual equivalence group and the generalized extended one including transformations which are nonlocal with respect to arbitrary elements are introduced.Then,using the most direct method,we carry out a classification of local conservation laws with characteristics of zero order for the equation under consideration up to equivalence relations generated by the generalized extended equivalence group.The equivalence with respect to this group and the correct choice of gauge coefficients of the equations play the major roles for simple and clear formulation of the final results.     

New inertial and gravitational effects made measurable by atomic beam interferometry

The aim of this letter is to draw attention to the fact that using atomic beam interferometry two new types of gravi-inertial effects are now within the range of measurability. Beyond the term linear in the earth's acceleration g, an effect quadratic in the acceleration seems to be observable. Furthermore, with regard to rotation, in addition to the Sagnac effect, a spin-rotation effect may be measurable. The respective experiments are of fundamental theoretical importance with regard to quantum mechanics in non-inertial reference frames and to the influence of gravity on quantum systems.     

A self-consistent approach to quantum field theory for extended particles

A notion of quantum space-time is introduced, physically defined as the totality of all flows of quantum test particles in free fall. In quantum space-time the classical notion of deterministic inertial frames is replaced by that of stochastic frames marked by extended particles. The same particles are used both as markers of quantum space-time points as well as natural clocks, each species of quantum test particle thus providing a standard for space-time measurements. In the considered flat-space case, the fluctuations in coordinate values with respect to stochastic frames are described by coordinate probability amplitudes related to irreducible stochastic phase space representations of the Poincaré group. Lagrangian field theory on quantum space-time is formulated. The ensuing equations of motion for interacting fields contain no singularities in their nonlinear terms, and therefore can be handled by methods borrowed from classical nonlinear analysis.Supported in part by an NSERC grant.     

On the meaning of the Einstein- and the Lorentz-covariant derivation

We define a derivation operation working on hybrid objects which are tensors under theEinstein group of coordinate transformations and under theLorentz group of transformations of reference systems. With these general covariant derivations we formulate the principle of the equivalence of theEinstein- and of theLorentz-covariant representations of the physical laws. This principle means the general covariant constance of the metric tetradsh _i ^A (Weyl's lemma).