English

Poisson spaces with a transition probability

Quantum Physics 2016-09-08 v2

Abstract

The common structure of the space of pure states PP of a classical or a quantum mechanical system is that of a Poisson space with a transition probability. This is a topological space equipped with a Poisson structure, as well as with a function p:P×P>[0,1]p:P\times P-> [0,1], with certain properties. The Poisson structure is connected with the transition probabilities through unitarity (in a specific formulation intrinsic to the given context). In classical mechanics, where p(ρ,σ)=\dlρσp(\rho,\sigma)=\dl_{\rho\sigma}, unitarity poses no restriction on the Poisson structure. Quantum mechanics is characterized by a specific (complex Hilbert space) form of pp, and by the property that the irreducible components of PP as a transition probability space coincide with the symplectic leaves of PP as a Poisson space. In conjunction, these stipulations determine the Poisson structure of quantum mechanics up to a multiplicative constant (identified with Planck's constant). Motivated by E.M. Alfsen, H. Hanche-Olsen and F.W. Shultz ({\em Acta Math.} {\bf 144} (1980) 267-305) and F.W. Shultz ({\em Commun.\ Math.\ Phys.} {\bf 82} (1982) 497-509), we give axioms guaranteeing that PP is the space of pure states of a unital CC^*-algebra. We give an explicit construction of this algebra from PP.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/9603005,
  title  = {Poisson spaces with a transition probability},
  author = {N. P. Landsman},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/9603005},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

23 pages, LaTeX, many details added