Quasi-Polish Spaces

We investigate some basic descriptive set theory for countably based completely quasi-metrizable topological spaces, which we refer to as quasi-Polish spaces. These spaces naturally generalize much of the classical descriptive set theory of Polish spaces to the non-Hausdorff setting. We show that a subspace of a quasi-Polish space is quasi-Polish if and only if it is level \Pi_2 in the Borel hierarchy. Quasi-Polish spaces can be characterized within the framework of Type-2 Theory of Effectivity as precisely the countably based spaces that have an admissible representation with a Polish domain. They can also be characterized domain theoretically as precisely the spaces that are homeomorphic to the subspace of all non-compact elements of an \omega-continuous domain. Every countably based locally compact sober space is quasi-Polish, hence every \omega-continuous domain is quasi-Polish. A metrizable space is quasi-Polish if and only if it is Polish. We show that the Borel hierarchy on an uncountable quasi-Polish space does not collapse, and that the Hausdorff-Kuratowski theorem generalizes to all quasi-Polish spaces

Quasi-probability representations of quantum theory with applications to quantum information science

This article comprises a review of both the quasi-probability representations of infinite-dimensional quantum theory (including the Wigner function) and the more recently defined quasi-probability representations of finite-dimensional quantum theory. We focus on both the characteristics and applications of these representations with an emphasis toward quantum information theory. We discuss the recently proposed unification of the set of possible quasi-probability representations via frame theory and then discuss the practical relevance of negativity in such representations as a criteria for quantumness.Comment: v3: typos fixed, references adde

Quasi-Chemical Theory and Implicit Solvent Models for Simulations

A statistical thermodynamic development is given of a new implicit solvent model that avoids the traditional system size limitations of computer simulation of macromolecular solutions with periodic boundary conditions. This implicit solvent model is based upon the quasi-chemical approach, distinct from the common integral equation trunk of the theory of liquid solutions. The physical content of this theory is the hypothesis that a small set of solvent molecules are decisive for these solvation problems. A detailed derivation of the quasi-chemical theory escorts the development of this proposal. The numerical application of the quasi-chemical treatment to Li$^+$ ion hydration in liquid water is used to motivate and exemplify the quasi-chemical theory. Those results underscore the fact that the quasi-chemical approach refines the path for utilization of ion-water cluster results for the statistical thermodynamics of solutions.Comment: 30 pages, contribution to Santa Fe Workshop on Treatment of Electrostatic Interactions in Computer Simulation of Condensed Medi

Universal countable Borel quasi-orders

In recent years, much work in descriptive set theory has been focused on the Borel complexity of naturally occurring classification problems, in particular, the study of countable Borel equivalence relations and their structure under the quasi-order of Borel reducibility. Following the approach of Louveau and Rosendal for the study of analytic equivalence relations, we study countable Borel quasi-orders. In this paper we are concerned with universal countable Borel quasi-orders, i.e. countable Borel quasi-orders above all other countable Borel quasi-orders with regard to Borel reducibility. We first establish that there is a universal countable Borel quasi-order, and then establish that several countable Borel quasi-orders are universal. An important example is an embeddability relation on descriptive set theoretic trees. Our main result states that embeddability of finitely generated groups is a universal countable Borel quasi-order, answering a question of Louveau and Rosendal. This immediately implies that biembeddability of finitely generated groups is a universal countable Borel equivalence relation. The same techniques are also used to show that embeddability of countable groups is a universal analytic quasi-order. Finally, we show that, up to Borel bireducibility, there are continuum-many distinct countable Borel quasi-orders which symmetrize to a universal countable Borel equivalence relation

Epistemology of quasi-sets

I briefly discuss the epistemological role of quasi-set theory in mathematics and theoretical physics. Quasi-set theory is a first order theory, based on Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with Urelemente (ZFU). Nevertheless, quasi-set theory allows us to cope with certain collections of objects where the usual notion of identity is not applicable, in the sense that $x = x$ is not a formula, if $x$ is an arbitrary term. Basically, quasi-set theory offers us some sort of logical apparatus for questioning the need for identity in some branches of mathematics and theoretical physics. I also use this opportunity to discuss a misunderstanding about quasi-sets due mainly to Nicholas J. J. Smith, who argues, in a general way, that sense cannot be made of vague identity