Recursion operators, higher-order symmetries and superintegrability in quantum mechanics

A connection between the theory of superintegrable quantum-mechanical systems, which admit a maximal number of integrals of motion, and the standard Lie group theory is established. It is shown that the flows generated by first- and second-order Lie symmetries of the bidimensional Schrödinger equation can be classified and interpreted as quantum-mechanical operators which commute with integrable or superintegrable Hamiltonians. In this way, all known superintegrable potentials in the plane are naturally obtained and slightly more general integrals of motion are found.     

Dynamical symmetries inq-deformed quantum mechanics

The dynamical algebra of theq-deformed harmonic oscillator is constructed. As a result, we find the free deformed Hamiltonian as well as the Hamiltonian of the deformed oscillator as a complicated, momentum dependent interaction Hamiltonian in terms of the usual canonical variables. Furthermore we construct a welldefined algebraSU _q(1,1) with consistent conjugation properties and comultiplication. We obtain non lowest weight representations of this algebra.     

Causality, symmetries and quantum mechanics

It is argued that there is no evidence for causality as a metaphysical relation in quantum phenomena. The assumptions that there are no causal laws, but only probabilities for physical processes constrained by symmetries, leads naturally to quantum mechanics. In particular, an argument is made for why there are probability amplitudes that are complex numbers. This argument generalizes the Feynman path integral formulation of quantum mechanics to include all possible terms in the action that are allowed by the symmetries, but only the lowest order terms are observable at the presently accessible energy scales, which is consistent with observation. The notion of relational reality is introduced in order to give physical meaning to probabilities. This appears to give rise to a new interpretation of quantum mechanics.     

Representations of non-commutative quantum mechanics and symmetries

We present a unified approach to representations of quantum mechanics on non-commutative spaces with general constant commutators of the phase-space variables. We find two phases and duality relations among them in arbitrary dimensions. Conditions for the physical equivalence of different representations of a given system are analyzed. Symmetries and classification of phase spaces are discussed. Especially, the dynamical symmetry of a physical system is investigated. Finally, we apply our analyses to the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator and the Landau problem. Received: 17 December 2002, Published online: 11 June 2003     

Lie algebra symmetries and quantum phase transitions in nuclei

In this paper, an overview of some aspects of quantum phase transitions (QPT) in nuclei is given and they are: (i) QPT in interacting boson model (sdIBM), (ii) QPT in two-level models, (iii) critical point E(5) and X(5) symmetries, (iv) QPT in a simple solvable model with three-body forces. In addition, some open problems are also given.     

Dynamical symmetries of two-dimensional systems in relativistic quantum mechanics

The two-dimensional Dirac Hamiltonian with equal scalar and vector potentials has been proved commuting with the deformed orbital angular momentum L. When the potential takes the Coulomb form, the system has an SO(3) symmetry, and similarly the harmonic oscillator potential possesses an SU(2) symmetry. The generators of the symmetric groups are derived for these two systems separately. The corresponding energy spectra are yielded naturally from the Casimir operators. Their non-relativistic limits are also discussed.     

Deformation quantization, superintegrability and Nambu mechanics

Phase Space is the framework best suited for quantizing superintegrable systems—systems with more conserved quantities than degrees of freedom. In this quantization method, the symmetry algebras of the hamiltonian invariants are preserved most naturally. We illustrate the power and simplicity of the method through new applications to nonlinear σ-models, specifically for Chiral Models and de Sitter N-spheres, where the symmetric quantum hamiltonians amount to compact and elegant expressions, in accord with the Groenewold-van Hove theorem. Additional power and elegance is provided by the use of Nambu Brackets (linked to Dirac Brackets) involving the extra invariants of superintegrable models. The quantization of Nambu Brackets is then successfully compared to that of Moyal, validating Nambu’s original proposal, while invalidating other proposals.     

Dynamical symmetries in mechanics

The object of this review is to discuss methods that enable one to trace the origin of symmetries and conservation laws in mechanics to geometrical symmetries of space-time. Starting with the basic Newtonian assumptions on absolute space and time classical mechanics is developed in configuration space and phase space independently together with the related structures such as force-less mechanics. Heuristic considerations on geometric symmetries in configuration space reveal their intimate relation to conservation laws. Using the methods of differential geometry this relationship is put on a formal footing and symmetry groups of all spherically symmetric single term potentials are classified. The method of infinitesimal canonical transformations is presented as an alternative method of deducing dynamical symmetries of an arbitrary system in phase space. These methods also apply to non-relativistic quantum theory. Possible extension to special and general relatively is also discussed.     

Dynamical symmetries and Nambu mechanics

It is shown that several Hamiltonian systems possessing dynamical or hidden symmetries can be realized within the framework of Nambu's generalized mechanics. Among such systems are the SU(n)-isotropic harmonic oscillator and the SO(4) Kepler problem. As required by the formulation of Nambu dynamics, the integrals of motion for these systems necessarily become the so-called generalized Hamiltonians. Furthermore, in most of these problems, the definition of these generalized Hamiltonians is not unique.     

Relativity symmetries and Lie algebra contractions

We revisit the notion of possible relativity or kinematic symmetries mutually connected through Lie algebra contractions under a new perspective on what constitutes a relativity symmetry. Contractions of an SO(m,n)$SO(m,n)$ symmetry as an isometry on an m+n$m+n$ dimensional geometric arena which generalizes the notion of spacetime are discussed systematically. One of the key results is five different contractions of a Galilean-type symmetry G(m,n)$G(m,n)$ preserving a symmetry of the same type at dimension m+n−1$m+n-1$, e.g.   a G(m,n−1)$G(m,n-1)$, together with the coset space representations that correspond to the usual physical picture. Most of the results are explicitly illustrated through the example of symmetries obtained from the contraction of SO(2,4)$SO(2,4)$, which is the particular case for our interest on the physics side as the proposed relativity symmetry for “quantum spacetime”. The contractions from G(1,3)$G(1,3)$ may be relevant to real physics.     

Symmetric Lie algebras of non-linear transformations of conformal type in quantum mechanics

The Koecher construction of simple symmetric Lie algebras is used to realize colineation and conformai Lie algebras of non-linear transformations of a pseudo-orthogonal vector space in the canonical Weyl algebras, which are used in the Schrödinger representation. The realization maps the linear sub-algebras onto symmetrized polynomials of second degree, whereas the non-linear parts are mapped onto polynomials of first and third degree. For the two examples the Meyberg Jordan algebras are explicitly given.     

Lie symmetries of difference equations

The discrete heat equation is worked out to illustrate the search of symmetries of difference equations. Special attention it is paid to the Lie structure of these symmetries, as well as to their dependence on the derivative’s discretization. The case ofq-symmetries for discrete equations in aq-lattice is briefly considered at the end. Talk delivered by J. Negro at the DI-CRM Workshop held in Prague, 18–21 June 2000. This work has been partially supported by DGES of the Ministerio de Educación y Cultura of Spain under Projects PB98-0360 and the Junta de Castilla y León (Spain).     

Non-relativistic conformal symmetries in fluid mechanics

The symmetries of a free incompressible fluid span the Galilei group, augmented with independent dilations of space and time. When the fluid is compressible, the symmetry is enlarged to the expanded Schrödinger group, which also involves, in addition, Schrödinger expansions. While incompressible fluid dynamics can be derived as an appropriate non-relativistic limit of a conformally invariant relativistic theory, the recently discussed conformal Galilei group, obtained by contraction from the relativistic conformal group, is not a symmetry. This is explained by the subtleties of the non-relativistic limit.     

离散Lagrange系统的Lie对称性

研究离散Lagrange系统的Lie对称性. 根据离散变分原理建立离散系统的运动方程. 给出离散运动方程Lie对称性的定义和确定方程. 举例说明结果的应用. 关键词： 离散Lagrange系统 离散变分原理 Lie对称性 确定方程     

Geodesic models generated by Lie symmetries

New theorems about the existence of solution for a system of infinite linear equations with a Vandermonde type matrix of coefficients are proved. Some examples and applications of these results are shown. In particular, a kind of these systems is solved and applied in the field of the General Relativity Theory of Gravitation. The solution of the system is used to construct a relevant physical representation of certain static and axisymmetric solution of the Einstein vacuum equations. In addition, a newtonian representation of these relativistic solutions is recovered. It is shown as well that there exists a relation between this application and the classical Haussdorff moment problem.     

Universal local symmetries and nonsuperposition in classical mechanics

In the Hilbert space formulation of classical mechanics, pioneered by Koopman and von Neumann, there are potentially more observables than in the standard approach to classical mechanics. In this Letter, we show that actually many of those extra observables are not invariant under a set of universal local symmetries which appear once the Koopman and von Neumann formulation is extended to include the evolution of differential forms. Because of their noninvariance, those extra observables have to be removed. This removal makes the superposition of states in the Koopman and von Neumann formulation, and as a consequence also in classical mechanics, impossible.     

The geometric nature of Lie and Noether symmetries

It is shown that the Lie and the Noether symmetries of the equations of motion of a dynamical system whose equations of motion in a Riemannian space are of the form [(x)\ddot]ⁱ+G_jkⁱ[(x)\dot]^j[(x)\dot] ^k+f(xⁱ)=0{\ddot{x}^{i}+\Gamma_{jk}^{i}\dot{x}^{j}\dot{x} ^{k}+f(x^{i})=0} where f(x ⁱ ) is an arbitrary function of its argument, are generated from the Lie algebra of special projective collineations and the homothetic algebra of the space respectively. Therefore the computation of Lie and Noether symmetries of a given dynamical system in these cases is reduced to the problem of computation of the special projective algebra of the space. It is noted that the Lie and Noether symmetry vectors are common to all dynamical systems moving in the same background space. The selection of the vectors which are Lie/Noether symmetries for a given dynamical system is done by means of a set of differential conditions involving the vectors and the potential function defining the dynamical system. The general results are applied to a number of different applications concerning (a) The motion in Euclidean space under the action of a general central potential (b) The motion in a space of constant curvature (c) The determination of the Lie and the Noether symmetries of class A Bianchi type hypersurface orthogonal spacetimes filled with a scalar field minimally coupled to gravity (d) The analytic computation of the Bianchi I metric when the scalar field has an exponential potential.