Defining quantumness via the Jordan product

We propose alternative definitions of classical states and quantumness witnesses by focusing on the algebra of observables of the system. A central role will be assumed by the anticommutator of the observables, namely the Jordan product. This approach turns out to be suitable for generalizations to infinite dimensional systems. We then show that the whole algebra of observables can be generated by three elements by repeated application of the Jordan product

Geometric Quantization of Real Minimal Nilpotent Orbits

In this paper, we begin a quantization program for nilpotent orbits of a real semisimple Lie group. These orbits and their covers generalize the symplectic vector space. A complex structure polarizing the orbit and invariant under a maximal compact subgroup is provided by the Kronheimer-Vergne Kaehler structure. We outline a geometric program for quantizing the orbit with respect to this polarization. We work out this program in detail for minimal nilpotent orbits in the non-Hermitian case. The Hilbert space of quantization consists of holomorphic half-forms on the orbit. We construct the reproducing kernel. The Lie algebra acts by explicit pseudo-differential operators on half-forms where the energy operator quantizing the Hamiltonian is inverted. The Lie algebra representation exponentiates to give a minimal unitary ladder representation. Jordan algebras play a key role in the geometry and the quantization

Poisson spaces with a transition probability

The common structure of the space of pure states $P$ 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 $p:P\times P-> [0,1]$, 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(\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 $p$, and by the property that the irreducible components of $P$ as a transition probability space coincide with the symplectic leaves of $P$ 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 $P$ is the space of pure states of a unital $C^*$-algebra. We give an explicit construction of this algebra from $P$.Comment: 23 pages, LaTeX, many details adde

The periodic sl(2|1) alternating spin chain and its continuum limit as a bulk Logarithmic Conformal Field Theory at c=0

The periodic sl(2|1) alternating spin chain encodes (some of) the properties of hulls of percolation clusters, and is described in the continuum limit by a logarithmic conformal field theory (LCFT) at central charge c=0. This theory corresponds to the strong coupling regime of a sigma model on the complex projective superspace $\mathbb{CP}^{1|1} = \mathrm{U}(2|1) / (\mathrm{U}(1) \times \mathrm{U}(1|1))$, and the spectrum of critical exponents can be obtained exactly. In this paper we push the analysis further, and determine the main representation theoretic (logarithmic) features of this continuum limit by extending to the periodic case the approach of [N. Read and H. Saleur, Nucl. Phys. B 777 316 (2007)]. We first focus on determining the representation theory of the finite size spin chain with respect to the algebra of local energy densities provided by a representation of the affine Temperley-Lieb algebra at fugacity one. We then analyze how these algebraic properties carry over to the continuum limit to deduce the structure of the space of states as a representation over the product of left and right Virasoro algebras. Our main result is the full structure of the vacuum module of the theory, which exhibits Jordan cells of arbitrary rank for the Hamiltonian.Comment: 69pp, 8 fig

On the reality of spectra of Uq(sl2)\boldsymbol{U_q(sl_2)}-invariant XXZ Hamiltonians

A new inner product is constructed on each standard module over the Temperley-Lieb algebra $\mathsf{TL}_n(\beta)$ for $\beta\in \mathbb R$ and $n \ge 2$. On these modules, the Hamiltonian $h = -\sum_i e_i$ is shown to be self-adjoint with respect to this inner product. This implies that its action on these modules is diagonalisable with real eigenvalues. A representation theoretic argument shows that the reality of spectra of the Hamiltonian extends to all other Temperley-Lieb representations. In particular, this result applies to the celebrated $U_q(sl_2)$-invariant XXZ Hamiltonian, for all $q+q^{-1}\in \mathbb R$.Comment: 30 page

Some Nearly Quantum Theories

We consider possible non-signaling composites of probabilistic models based on euclidean Jordan algebras. Subject to some reasonable constraints, we show that no such composite exists having the exceptional Jordan algebra as a direct summand. We then construct several dagger compact categories of such Jordan-algebraic models. One of these neatly unifies real, complex and quaternionic mixed-state quantum mechanics, with the exception of the quaternionic "bit". Another is similar, except in that (i) it excludes the quaternionic bit, and (ii) the composite of two complex quantum systems comes with an extra classical bit. In both of these categories, states are morphisms from systems to the tensor unit, which helps give the categorical structure a clear operational interpretation. A no-go result shows that the first of these categories, at least, cannot be extended to include spin factors other than the (real, complex, and quaternionic) quantum bits, while preserving the representation of states as morphisms. The same is true for attempts to extend the second category to even-dimensional spin-factors. Interesting phenomena exhibited by some composites in these categories include failure of local tomography, supermultiplicativity of the maximal number of mutually distinguishable states, and mixed states whose marginals are pure.Comment: In Proceedings QPL 2015, arXiv:1511.0118

Minimal representations via Bessel operators

We construct an L^2-model of "very small" irreducible unitary representations of simple Lie groups G which, up to finite covering, occur as conformal groups Co(V) of simple Jordan algebras V. If $V$ is split and G is not of type A_n, then the representations are minimal in the sense that the annihilators are the Joseph ideals. Our construction allows the case where G does not admit minimal representations. In particular, applying to Jordan algebras of split rank one we obtain the entire complementary series representations of SO(n,1)_0. A distinguished feature of these representations in all cases is that they attain the minimum of the Gelfand--Kirillov dimensions among irreducible unitary representations. Our construction provides a unified way to realize the irreducible unitary representations of the Lie groups in question as Schroedinger models in L^2-spaces on Lagrangian submanifolds of the minimal real nilpotent coadjoint orbits. In this realization the Lie algebra representations are given explicitly by differential operators of order at most two, and the key new ingredient is a systematic use of specific second-order differential operators (Bessel operators) which are naturally defined in terms of the Jordan structure