A pedagogical presentation of a C⋆C^\star-algebraic approach to quantum tomography

It is now well established that quantum tomography provides an alternative picture of quantum mechanics. It is common to introduce tomographic concepts starting with the Schrodinger-Dirac picture of quantum mechanics on Hilbert spaces. In this picture states are a primary concept and observables are derived from them. On the other hand, the Heisenberg picture,which has evolved in the $C^\star-$algebraic approach to quantum mechanics, starts with the algebra of observables and introduce states as a derived concept. The equivalence between these two pictures amounts essentially, to the Gelfand-Naimark-Segal construction. In this construction, the abstract $C^\star-$algebra is realized as an algebra of operators acting on a constructed Hilbert space. The representation one defines may be reducible or irreducible, but in either case it allows to identify an unitary group associated with the $C^\star-$algebra by means of its invertible elements. In this picture both states and observables are appropriate functions on the group, it follows that also quantum tomograms are strictly related with appropriate functions (positive-type)on the group. In this paper we present, by means of very simple examples, the tomographic description emerging from the set of ideas connected with the $C^\star-$algebra picture of quantum mechanics. In particular, the tomographic probability distributions are introduced for finite and compact groups and an autonomous criterion to recognize a given probability distribution as a tomogram of quantum state is formulated

Lorentz Transformations as Lie-Poisson Symmetries

We write down the Poisson structure for a relativistic particle where the Lorentz group does not act canonically, but instead as a Poisson-Lie group. In so doing we obtain the classical limit of a particle moving on a noncommutative space possessing $SL_q(2,C)$ invariance. We show that if the standard mass shell constraint is chosen for the Hamiltonian function, then the particle interacts with the space-time. We solve for the trajectory and find that it originates and terminates at singularities.Comment: 18 page

The quantum-to-classical transition: contraction of associative products

The quantum-to-classical transition is considered from the point of view of contractions of associative algebras. Various methods and ideas to deal with contractions of associative algebras are discussed that account for a large family of examples. As an instance of them, the commutative algebra of functions in phase space, corresponding to classical physical observables, is obtained as a contraction of the Moyal star-product which characterizes the quantum case. Contractions of associative algebras associated to Lie algebras are discussed, in particular the Weyl-Heisenberg and $SU(2)$ groups are considered.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figur

Groupoids and the tomographic picture of quantum mechanics

The existing relation between the tomographic description of quantum states and the convolution algebra of certain discrete groupoids represented on Hilbert spaces will be discussed. The realizations of groupoid algebras based on qudit, photon-number (Fock) states and symplectic tomography quantizers and dequantizers will be constructed. Conditions for identifying the convolution product of groupoid functions and the star--product arising from a quantization--dequantization scheme will be given. A tomographic approach to construct quasi--distributions out of suitable immersions of groupoids into Hilbert spaces will be formulated and, finally, intertwining kernels for such generalized symplectic tomograms will be evaluated explicitly

A tomographic setting for quasi-distribution functions

The method of constructing the tomographic probability distributions describing quantum states in parallel with density operators is presented. Known examples of Husimi-Kano quasi-distribution and photon number tomography are reconsidered in the new setting. New tomographic schemes based on coherent states and nonlinear coherent states of deformed oscillators, including q-oscillators, are suggested. The associated identity decompositions providing Gram-Schmidt operators are explicitly given, and contact with the Agarwal-Wolf $\Omega$-operator ordering theory is made.Comment: A slightly enlarged version in which contact with the Agarwal-Wolf $\Omega$-operator ordering theory is mad

Realization of associative products in terms of Moyal and tomographic symbols

The quantizer-dequantizer method allows to construct associative products on any measure space. Here we consider an inverse problem: given an associative product is it possible to realize it within the quantizer-dequantizer framework? The answer is positive in finite dimensions and we give a few examples in infinite dimensions.Comment: 13 pages. To appear on Physica Script

Optical supercavitation in soft-matter

We investigate theoretically, numerically and experimentally nonlinear optical waves in an absorbing out-of-equilibrium colloidal material at the gelification transition. At sufficiently high optical intensity, absorption is frustrated and light propagates into the medium. The process is mediated by the formation of a matter-shock wave due to optically induced thermodiffusion, and largely resembles the mechanism of hydrodynamical supercavitation, as it is accompanied by a dynamic phase-transition region between the beam and the absorbing material.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, revised version: corrected typos and reference