Non-Pauli Transitions From Spacetime Noncommutativity

There are good reasons to suspect that spacetime at Planck scales is noncommutative. Typically this noncommutativity is controlled by fixed "vectors" or "tensors" with numerical entries. For the Moyal spacetime, it is the antisymmetric matrix $\theta_{\mu\nu}$. In approaches enforcing Poincar\'e invariance, these deform or twist the method of (anti-)symmetrization of identical particle state vectors. We argue that the earth's rotation and movements in the cosmos are "sudden" events to Pauli-forbidden processes. They induce (twisted) bosonic components in state vectors of identical spinorial particles in the presence of a twist. These components induce non-Pauli transitions. From known limits on such transitions, we infer that the energy scale for noncommutativity is $\gtrsim 10^{24}\textrm{TeV}$. This suggests a new energy scale beyond Planck scale.Comment: 11 pages, 1 table, Slightly revised for clarity

Topology Change for Fuzzy Physics: Fuzzy Spaces as Hopf Algebras

Fuzzy spaces are obtained by quantizing adjoint orbits of compact semi-simple Lie groups. Fuzzy spheres emerge from quantizing S^2 and are associated with the group SU(2) in this manner. They are useful for regularizing quantum field theories and modeling spacetimes by non-commutative manifolds. We show that fuzzy spaces are Hopf algebras and in fact have more structure than the latter. They are thus candidates for quantum symmetries. Using their generalized Hopf algebraic structures, we can also model processes where one fuzzy space splits into several fuzzy spaces. For example we can discuss the quantum transition where the fuzzy sphere for angular momentum J splits into fuzzy spheres for angular momenta K and L.Comment: LaTeX, 13 pages, v3: minor additions, added references, v4: corrected typos, to appear in IJMP

Duality in Fuzzy Sigma Models

Nonlinear `sigma' models in two dimensions have BPS solitons which are solutions of self- and anti-self-duality constraints. In this paper, we find their analogues for fuzzy sigma models on fuzzy spheres which were treated in detail by us in earlier work. We show that fuzzy BPS solitons are quantized versions of `Bott projectors', and construct them explicitly. Their supersymmetric versions follow from the work of S. Kurkcuoglu.Comment: Latex, 9 pages; misprints correcte

Bringing Up a Quantum Baby

Any two infinite-dimensional (separable) Hilbert spaces are unitarily isomorphic. The sets of all their self-adjoint operators are also therefore unitarily equivalent. Thus if all self-adjoint operators can be observed, and if there is no further major axiom in quantum physics than those formulated for example in Dirac's `Quantum Mechanics', then a quantum physicist would not be able to tell a torus from a hole in the ground. We argue that there are indeed such axioms involving vectors in the domain of the Hamiltonian: The ``probability densities'' (hermitean forms) \psi^\dagger \chi for \psi,\chi in this domain generate an algebra from which the classical configuration space with its topology (and with further refinements of the axiom, its C^K and C^infinity structures) can be reconstructed using Gel'fand - Naimark theory. Classical topology is an attribute of only certain quantum states for these axioms, the configuration space emergent from quantum physics getting progressively less differentiable with increasingly higher excitations of energy and eventually altogether ceasing to exist. After formulating these axioms, we apply them to show the possibility of topology change and to discuss quantized fuzzy topologies. Fundamental issues concerning the role of time in quantum physics are also addressed.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figures ( ref. updated, no other changes

Gauge Symmetries,Topology and Quantisation

The following two loosely connected sets of topics are reviewed in these lecture notes: 1) Gauge invariance, its treatment in field theories and its implications for internal symmetries and edge states such as those in the quantum Hall effect. 2) Quantisation on multiply connected spaces and a topological proof the spin-statistics theorem which avoids quantum field theory and relativity. Under 1), after explaining the meaning of gauge invariance and the theory of constraints, we discuss boundary conditions on gauge transformations and the definition of internal symmetries in gauge field theories. We then show how the edge states in the quantum Hall effect can be derived from the Chern-Simons action using the preceding ideas. Under 2), after explaining the significance of fibre bundles for quantum physics, we review quantisation on multiply connected spaces in detail, explaining also mathematical ideas such as those of the universal covering space and the fundamental group. These ideas are then used to prove the aforementioned topological spin-statistics theorem.e of the universal covering space and the fundamental group.Comment: 74pages (Lectures

Skyrmions, Spectral Flow and Parity Doubles

It is well-known that the winding number of the Skyrmion can be identified as the baryon number. We show in this paper that this result can also be established using the Atiyah-Singer index theorem and spectral flow arguments. We argue that this proof suggests that there are light quarks moving in the field of the Skyrmion. We then show that if these light degrees of freedom are averaged out, the low energy excitations of the Skyrmion are in fact spinorial. A natural consequence of our approach is the prediction of a $(1/2)^{-}$ state and its excitations in addition to the nucleon and delta. Using the recent numerical evidence for the existence of Skyrmions with discrete spatial symmetries, we further suggest that the the low energy spectrum of many light nuclei may possess a parity doublet structure arising from a subtle topological interaction between the slow Skyrmion and the fast quarks. We also present tentative experimental evidence supporting our arguments.Comment: 22 pages, LaTex. Uses amstex, amssym

Quantum Spacetimes in the Year 1

We review certain emergent notions on the nature of spacetime from noncommutative geometry and their radical implications. These ideas of spacetime are suggested from developments in fuzzy physics, string theory, and deformation quantisation. The review focuses on the ideas coming from fuzzy physics. We find models of quantum spacetime like fuzzy $S^4$ on which states cannot be localised, but which fluctuate into other manifolds like $CP^3$ . New uncertainty principles concerning such lack of localisability on quantum spacetimes are formulated.Such investigations show the possibility of formulating and answering questions like the probabilty of finding a point of a quantum manifold in a state localised on another one. Additional striking possibilities indicated by these developments is the (generic) failure of $CPT$ theorem and the conventional spin-statistics connection. They even suggest that Planck's `` constant '' may not be a constant, but an operator which does not commute with all observables. All these novel possibilities arise within the rules of conventional quantum physics,and with no serious input from gravity physics.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX; talks given at Utica and Kolkata .Minor corrections made and references adde