Semiclassical quantization and spectral limits of h-pseudodifferential and Berezin-Toeplitz operators

We introduce a minimalistic notion of semiclassical quantization and use it to prove that the convex hull of the semiclassical spectrum of a quantum system given by a collection of commuting operators converges to the convex hull of the spectrum of the associated classical system. This gives a quick alternative solution to the isospectrality problem for quantum toric systems. If the operators are uniformly bounded, the convergence is uniform. Analogous results hold for non-commuting operators.Comment: 27 pages, 3 figure

Symplectic spectral geometry of semiclassical operators

In the past decade there has been a flurry of activity at the intersection of spectral theory and symplectic geometry. In this paper we review recent results on semiclassical spectral theory for commuting Berezin-Toeplitz and h-pseudodifferential operators. The paper emphasizes the interplay between spectral theory of operators (quantum theory) and symplectic geometry of Hamiltonians (classical theory), with an eye towards recent developments on the geometry of finite dimensional integrable systems.Comment: To appear in Bulletin of the Belgian Mathematical Society, 11 page

Survey on recent developments in semitoric systems

Semitoric systems are a special class of four-dimensional completely integrable systems where one of the first integrals generates an $\mathbb{S}^1$-action. They were classified by Pelayo & Vu Ngoc in terms of five symplectic invariants about a decade ago. We give a survey over the recent progress which has been mostly focused on the explicit computation of the symplectic invariants for families of semitoric systems depending on several parameters and the generation of new examples with certain properties, such as a specific number of singularities of lowest rank.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

A family of compact semitoric systems with two focus-focus singularities

About 6 years ago, semitoric systems were classified by Pelayo & Vu Ngoc by means of five invariants. Standard examples are the coupled spin oscillator on $\mathbb{S}^2 \times \mathbb{R}^2$ and coupled angular momenta on $\mathbb{S}^2 \times \mathbb{S}^2$, both having exactly one focus-focus singularity. But so far there were no explicit examples of systems with more than one focus-focus singularity which are semitoric in the sense of that classification. This paper introduces a 6-parameter family of integrable systems on $\mathbb{S}^2 \times \mathbb{S}^2$ and proves that, for certain ranges of the parameters, it is a compact semitoric system with precisely two focus-focus singularities. Since the twisting index (one of the semitoric invariants) is related to the relationship between different focus-focus points, this paper provides systems for the future study of the twisting index.Comment: Update to most recent version: some typos removed; minor inaccuracies corrected; better layou

Slow Schroedinger dynamics of gauged vortices

Multivortex dynamics in Manton's Schroedinger--Chern--Simons variant of the Landau-Ginzburg model of thin superconductors is studied within a moduli space approximation. It is shown that the reduced flow on M_N, the N vortex moduli space, is hamiltonian with respect to \omega_{L^2}, the L^2 Kaehler form on \M_N. A purely hamiltonian discussion of the conserved momenta associated with the euclidean symmetry of the model is given, and it is shown that the euclidean action on (M_N,\omega_{L^2}) is not hamiltonian. It is argued that the N=3 flow is integrable in the sense of Liouville. Asymptotic formulae for \omega_{L^2} and the reduced Hamiltonian for large intervortex separation are conjectured. Using these, a qualitative analysis of internal 3-vortex dynamics is given and a spectral stability analysis of certain rotating vortex polygons is performed. Comparison is made with the dynamics of classical fluid point vortices and geostrophic vortices.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figure

Adiabatically coupled systems and fractional monodromy

We present a 1-parameter family of systems with fractional monodromy and adiabatic separation of motion. We relate the presence of monodromy to a redistribution of states both in the quantum and semi-quantum spectrum. We show how the fractional monodromy arises from the non diagonal action of the dynamical symmetry of the system and manifests itself as a generic property of an important subclass of adiabatically coupled systems

The Cheshire Cap

A key role in black hole dynamics is played by the inner horizon; most of the entropy of a slightly nonextremal charged or rotating black hole is carried there, and the covariant entropy bound suggests that the rest lies in the region between the inner and outer horizon. An attempt to match this onto results of the microstate geometries program suggests that a `Higgs branch' of underlying long string states of the configuration space realizes the degrees of freedom on the inner horizon, while the `Coulomb branch' describes the inter-horizon region and beyond. Support for this proposal comes from an analysis of the way singularities develop in microstate geometries, and their close analogy to corresponding structures in fivebrane dynamics. These singularities signal the opening up of the long string degrees of freedom of the theory, which are partly visible from the geometry side. A conjectural picture of the black hole interior is proposed, wherein the long string degrees of freedom resolve the geometrical singularity on the inner horizon, yet are sufficiently nonlocal to communicate information to the outer horizon and beyond.Comment: 64 pages, 8 figures. Version 2: References added, together with substantial elaborations and clarification

Anomalous dimension in semiclassical gravity

The description of the phase space of relativistic particles coupled to three-dimensional Einstein gravity requires momenta which are coordinates on a group manifold rather than on ordinary Minkowski space. The corresponding field theory turns out to be a non-commutative field theory on configuration space and a group field theory on momentum space. Using basic non-commutative Fourier transform tools we introduce the notion of non-commutative heat-kernel associated with the Laplacian on the non-commutative configuration space. We show that the spectral dimension associated to the non-commutative heat kernel varies with the scale reaching a non-integer value smaller than three for Planckian diffusion scales.Comment: RevTeX, 9 pages, 1 figure; v2: typos corrected and reference adde

Nonrelativistic anyons in external electromagnetic field

The first-order, infinite-component field equations we proposed before for non-relativistic anyons (identified with particles in the plane with noncommuting coordinates) are generalized to accommodate arbitrary background electromagnetic fields. Consistent coupling of the underlying classical system to arbitrary fields is introduced; at a critical value of the magnetic field, the particle follows a Hall-like law of motion. The corresponding quantized system reveals a hidden nonlocality if the magnetic field is inhomogeneous. In the quantum Landau problem spectral as well as state structure (finite vs. infinite) asymmetry is found. The bound and scattering states, separated by the critical magnetic field phase, behave as further, distinct phases.Comment: 19 pages, typos corrected; to appear in Nucl. Phys.