English

Quantum geometry, logic and probability

Mathematical Physics 2020-02-28 v1 math.MP

Abstract

Quantum geometry on a discrete set means a directed graph with a weight associated to each arrow defining the quantum metric. However, these `lattice spacing' weights do not have to be independent of the direction of the arrow. We use this greater freedom to give a quantum geometric interpretation of discrete Markov processes with transition probabilities as arrow weights, namely taking the diffusion form +f=(Δθ+qp)f\partial_+ f=(-\Delta_\theta+ q-p)f for the graph Laplacian Δθ\Delta_\theta, potential functions q,pq,p built from the probabilities, and finite difference +\partial_+ in the time direction. Motivated by this new point of view, we introduce a `discrete Schroedinger process' as +ψ=ı(Δ+V)ψ\partial_+\psi=\imath(-\Delta+V)\psi for the Laplacian associated to a bimodule connection such that the discrete evolution is unitary. We solve this explicitly for the 2-state graph, finding a 1-parameter family of such connections and an induced `generalised Markov process' for f=ψ2f=|\psi|^2 in which there is an additional source current built from ψ\psi. We also discuss our recent work on the quantum geometry of logic in `digital' form over the field F2={0,1}\Bbb F_2=\{0,1\}, including de Morgan duality and its possible generalisations.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2002.11851,
  title  = {Quantum geometry, logic and probability},
  author = {Shahn Majid},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2002.11851},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

23 pages, 5 figures