C *-algebraic quantization and the origin of topological quantum effects

Concepts from the theory of abstract operator algebras are used to solve the problem of quantizing a particle moving on an arbitrary locally compact homogeneous space. Inequivalent quantizations are identified with inequivalent irreducible representations of the corresponding C^*-algebra. Topological terms in the action (or Hamiltonian) are found to be representation-dependent, and are automatically induced by the quantization procedure. Known charge quantization conditions turn out to be identically satisfied. Several examples are considered, among them the Dirac monopole and the Aharonov-Bohm effect.