English

Geometric formulation of quantum mechanics

Quantum Physics 2017-11-03 v2 Mathematical Physics math.MP

Abstract

Quantum mechanics is among the most important and successful mathematical model for describing our physical reality. The traditional formulation of quantum mechanics is linear and algebraic. In contrast classical mechanics is a geometrical and non-linear theory that is defined on a symplectic manifold. However, after invention of general relativity, we are convinced that geometry is physical and effect us in all scale. Hence the geometric formulation of quantum mechanics sought to give a unified picture of physical systems based on its underling geometrical structures, e.g., now, the states are represented by points of a symplectic manifold with a compatible Riemannian metric, the observables are real-valued functions on the manifold, and the quantum evolution is governed by a symplectic flow that is generated by a Hamiltonian function. In this work we will give a compact introduction to main ideas of geometric formulation of quantum mechanics. We will provide the reader with the details of geometrical structures of both pure and mixed quantum states. We will also discuss and review some important applications of geometric quantum mechanics.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1503.00238,
  title  = {Geometric formulation of quantum mechanics},
  author = {Hoshang Heydari},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1503.00238},
  year   = {2017}
}

Comments

42 pages, 5 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-22T08:40:52.906Z