English

Geometry of density sates

Quantum Physics 2009-11-13 v2

Abstract

We reconsider the geometry of pure and mixed states in a finite quantum system. The rangesof eigenvalues of the density matrices delimit a regular simplex (Hypertetrahedron TN) in any dimension N; the polytope isometry group is the symmetric group SN+1, and splits TN in chambers, the orbits of the states under the projective group PU(N + 1). The type of states correlates with the vertices, edges, faces, etc. of the polytope, with the vertices making up a base of orthogonal pure states. The entropy function as a measure of the purity of these states is also easily calculable; we draw and consider some isentropic surfaces. The Casimir invariants acquire then also a more transparent interpretation.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0808.1930,
  title  = {Geometry of density sates},
  author = {Luis J. Boya and Kuldeep Dixit},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0808.1930},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

7 pages, 6 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-21T11:10:13.793Z