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Dirac–von Neumann Axioms
In mathematical physics, the Dirac–von Neumann axioms give a mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of operators on a Hilbert space. They were introduced by Paul Dirac in 1930 and John von Neumann in 1932. Hilbert space formulation The space \mathbb is a fixed complex Hilbert space of countably infinite dimension (as a hilbert-basis). * The observables of a quantum system are defined to be the (possibly unbounded) self-adjoint operators A on \mathbb. * A state \psi of the quantum system is a unit vector of \mathbb, up to scalar multiples; or equivalently, a ray of the Hilbert space \mathbb. * The expectation value of an observable ''A'' for a system in a state \psi is given by the inner product \langle \psi, A \psi \rangle. Operator algebra formulation The Dirac–von Neumann axioms can be formulated in terms of a C*-algebra as follows. * The bounded observables of the quantum mechanical system are defined to be the self-adjoint elements of the C*-algebra. * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mathematical Physics
Mathematical physics is the development of mathematics, mathematical methods for application to problems in physics. The ''Journal of Mathematical Physics'' defines the field as "the application of mathematics to problems in physics and the development of mathematical methods suitable for such applications and for the formulation of physical theories". An alternative definition would also include those mathematics that are inspired by physics, known as physical mathematics. Scope There are several distinct branches of mathematical physics, and these roughly correspond to particular historical parts of our world. Classical mechanics Applying the techniques of mathematical physics to classical mechanics typically involves the rigorous, abstract, and advanced reformulation of Newtonian mechanics in terms of Lagrangian mechanics and Hamiltonian mechanics (including both approaches in the presence of constraints). Both formulations are embodied in analytical mechanics and lead ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Projective Hilbert Space
In mathematics and the foundations of quantum mechanics, the projective Hilbert space or ray space \mathbf(H) of a complex Hilbert space H is the set of equivalence classes /math> of non-zero vectors v \in H, for the equivalence relation \sim on H given by :w \sim v if and only if v = \lambda w for some non-zero complex number \lambda. This is the usual construction of projectivization, applied to a complex Hilbert space. In quantum mechanics, the equivalence classes /math> are also referred to as rays or projective rays. Each such projective ray is a copy of the nonzero complex numbers, which is topologically a two-dimensional plane after one point has been removed. Overview The physical significance of the projective Hilbert space is that in quantum theory, the wave functions \psi and \lambda \psi represent the same ''physical state'', for any \lambda \ne 0. The Born rule demands that if the system is physical and measurable, its wave function has unit norm, \langle\psi, \p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Operator Algebras
In functional analysis, a branch of mathematics, an operator algebra is an algebra of continuous linear operators on a topological vector space, with the multiplication given by the composition of mappings. The results obtained in the study of operator algebras are often phrased in algebraic terms, while the techniques used are often highly analytic.''Theory of Operator Algebras I'' By Masamichi Takesaki, Springer 2012, p vi Although the study of operator algebras is usually classified as a branch of functional analysis, it has direct applications to representation theory, differential geometry, quantum statistical mechanics, quantum information, and quantum field theory. Overview Operator algebras can be used to study arbitrary sets of operators with little algebraic relation ''simultaneously''. From this point of view, operator algebras can be regarded as a generalization of spectral theory of a single operator. In general, operator algebras are non-commutative rings. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
