Lower-dimensional pure-spinor superstrings

We study to what extent it is possible to generalise Berkovits' pure-spinor construction in d=10 to lower dimensions. Using a suitable definition of a ``pure'' spinor in d=4,6, we propose models analogous to the d=10 pure-spinor superstring in these dimensions. Similar models in d=2,3 are also briefly discussed.Comment: 17 page

The Kadison-Singer Problem in Mathematics and Engineering

We will show that the famous, intractible 1959 Kadison-Singer problem in $C^{*}$-algebras is equivalent to fundamental unsolved problems in a dozen areas of research in pure mathematics, applied mathematics and Engineering. This gives all these areas common ground on which to interact as well as explaining why each of these areas has volumes of literature on their respective problems without a satisfactory resolution. In each of these areas we will reduce the problem to the minimum which needs to be proved to solve their version of Kadison-Singer. In some areas we will prove what we believe will be the strongest results ever available in the case that Kadison-Singer fails. Finally, we will give some directions for constructing a counter-example to Kadison-Singer

Conditional Density Operators and the Subjectivity of Quantum Operations

Assuming that quantum states, including pure states, represent subjective degrees of belief rather than objective properties of systems, the question of what other elements of the quantum formalism must also be taken as subjective is addressed. In particular, we ask this of the dynamical aspects of the formalism, such as Hamiltonians and unitary operators. Whilst some operations, such as the update maps corresponding to a complete projective measurement, must be subjective, the situation is not so clear in other cases. Here, it is argued that all trace preserving completely positive maps, including unitary operators, should be regarded as subjective, in the same sense as a classical conditional probability distribution. The argument is based on a reworking of the Choi-Jamiolkowski isomorphism in terms of "conditional" density operators and trace preserving completely positive maps, which mimics the relationship between conditional probabilities and stochastic maps in classical probability.Comment: 10 Pages, Work presented at "Foundations of Probability and Physics-4", Vaxjo University, June 4-9 200

Rank one perturbations and singular integral operators

We consider rank one perturbations $A_\alpha=A+\alpha(\cdot,\varphi)\varphi$ of a self-adjoint operator $A$ with cyclic vector $\varphi\in\mathcal H_{-1}(A)$ on a Hilbert space $\mathcal H$. The spectral representation of the perturbed operator $A_\alpha$ is given by a singular integral operator of special form. Such operators exhibit what we call 'rigidity' and are connected with two weight estimates for the Hilbert transform. Also, some results about two weight estimates of Cauchy (Hilbert) transforms are proved. In particular, it is proved that the regularized Cauchy transforms $T_\varepsilon$ are uniformly (in $\varepsilon$) bounded operators from $L^2(\mu)$ to $L^2(\mu_\alpha)$, where $\mu$ and $\mu_\alpha$ are the spectral measures of $A$ and $A_\alpha$, respectively. As an application, a sufficient condition for $A_\alpha$ to have a pure absolutely continuous spectrum on a closed interval is given in terms of the density of the spectral measure of $A$ with respect to $\varphi$. Some examples, like Jacobi matrices and Schr\"odinger operators with $L^2$ potentials are considered.Comment: 24 page

Uniquely determined pure quantum states need not be unique ground states of quasi-local Hamiltonians

We consider the problem of characterizing states of a multipartite quantum system from restricted, quasi-local information, with emphasis on uniquely determined pure states. By leveraging tools from dissipative quantum control theory, we show how the search for states consistent with an assigned list of reduced density matrices may be restricted to a proper subspace, which is determined solely by their supports. The existence of a quasi-local observable which attains its unique minimum over such a subspace further provides a sufficient criterion for a pure state to be uniquely determined by its reduced states. While the condition that a pure state is uniquely determined is necessary for it to arise as a non-degenerate ground state of a quasi-local Hamiltonian, we prove the opposite implication to be false in general, by exhibiting an explicit analytic counterexample. We show how the problem of determining whether a quasi-local parent Hamiltonian admitting a given pure state as its unique ground state is dual, in the sense of semidefinite programming, to the one of determining whether such a state is uniquely determined by the quasi-local information. Failure of this dual program to attain its optimal value is what prevents these two classes of states to coincide.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figur