Tomita's Lectures on Observable Algebras in Hilbert Space


Book Description

​This book is devoted to the study of Tomita's observable algebras, their structure and applications. It begins by building the foundations of the theory of T*-algebras and CT*-algebras, presenting the major results and investigating the relationship between the operator and vector representations of a CT*-algebra. It is then shown via the representation theory of locally convex*-algebras that this theory includes Tomita–Takesaki theory as a special case; every observable algebra can be regarded as an operator algebra on a Pontryagin space with codimension 1. All of the results are proved in detail and the basic theory of operator algebras on Hilbert space is summarized in an appendix. The theory of CT*-algebras has connections with many other branches of functional analysis and with quantum mechanics. The aim of this book is to make Tomita’s theory available to a wider audience, with the hope that it will be used by operator algebraists and researchers in these related fields.




Generalized B*-Algebras and Applications


Book Description

This book reviews the theory of 'generalized B*-algebras' (GB*-algebras), a class of complete locally convex *-algebras which includes all C*-algebras and some of their extensions. A functional calculus and a spectral theory for GB*-algebras is presented, together with results such as Ogasawara's commutativity condition, Gelfand–Naimark type theorems, a Vidav–Palmer type theorem, an unbounded representation theory, and miscellaneous applications. Numerous contributions to the subject have been made since its initiation by G.R. Allan in 1967, including the notable early work of his student P.G. Dixon. Providing an exposition of existing research in the field, the book aims to make this growing theory as familiar as possible to postgraduate students interested in functional analysis, (unbounded) operator theory and its relationship to mathematical physics. It also addresses researchers interested in extensions of the celebrated theory of C*-algebras.




Quantum Field Theory


Book Description

On the occasion of W. Zimmermann's 70th birthday some eminent scientists gave review talks in honor of one of the great masters of quantum field theory. It was decided to write them up and publish them in this book, together with reprints of some seminal papers of the laureate. Thus, this volume deepens our understanding of anomalies, algebraic renormalization theory, axiomatic field theory and of much more while illuminating the past and present state of affairs and pointing to interesting problems for future research.




Deep Beauty


Book Description

No scientific theory has caused more puzzlement and confusion than quantum theory. Physics is supposed to help us to understand the world, but quantum theory makes it seem a very strange place. This book is about how mathematical innovation can help us gain deeper insight into the structure of the physical world. Chapters by top researchers in the mathematical foundations of physics explore new ideas, especially novel mathematical concepts at the cutting edge of future physics. These creative developments in mathematics may catalyze the advances that enable us to understand our current physical theories, especially quantum theory. The authors bring diverse perspectives, unified only by the attempt to introduce fresh concepts that will open up new vistas in our understanding of future physics.










Topological Geometrodynamics


Book Description

Topological GeometroDynamics is a modification of general relativity inspired by the conceptual problems related to the definitions of inertial and gravitational energy in general relativity. Topological geometrodynamics can be also seen as a generalization of super string models. Physical space-times are seen as four-dimensional surfaces in certain eight-dimensional space. The choice of this space is fixed by symmetries of the standard model so that geometrization of known classical fields and elementary particle quantum numbers results. The notion of many-sheeted space-time allows re-interpretation of the structures of perceived world in terms of macroscopic space-time topology. The generalization of the number concept based on fusion of real numbers and p-adic number fields implies a further generalization of the space-time concept allowing to identify space-time correlates of cognition and intentionality. Quantum measurement theory extended to a quantum theory of consciousness becomes an organic part of theory. A highly non-trivial prediction is the existence of a fractal hierarchy of copies of standard model physics with dark matter identified in terms of macroscopic quantum phases characterized by dynamical and quantized Planck constant. The book is a comprehensive overview and analysis of topological geometrodynamics as a mathematical and physical theory.







Recent Advances in Field Theory


Book Description

Recent Advances in Field Theory presents the proceedings of the Fourth Annecy Meeting on Theoretical Physics, held in Annecy-le-Vieux, France, on March 5–9, 1990. This book presents several relevant developments on the subject, including quantum algebra, two-dimensional quantum gravity, and topological quantum theories. Organized into 29 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the Hamiltonian quantization of the topological Chern–Simons theory. This text then examines the conformal affine Liouville model. Other chapters consider the global analyticity properties of functions correlated with causal kernels on de Sitter space. This book discusses as well the three particle models in terms of noncommutative gauge theory, namely, the Peccei-Quinn model, the Glashow–Weinberg–Salam model, and the standard model. The final chapter deals with the development on the construction of lattice integrable models corresponding to the SU (N) coset conformal field theories. This book is a valuable resource for physicists and scientists.




Probabilistic and Statistical Aspects of Quantum Theory


Book Description

This book is devoted to aspects of the foundations of quantum mechanics in which probabilistic and statistical concepts play an essential role. The main part of the book concerns the quantitative statistical theory of quantum measurement, based on the notion of positive operator-valued measures. During the past years there has been substantial progress in this direction, stimulated to a great extent by new applications such as Quantum Optics, Quantum Communication and high-precision experiments. The questions of statistical interpretation, quantum symmetries, theory of canonical commutation relations and Gaussian states, uncertainty relations as well as new fundamental bounds concerning the accuracy of quantum measurements, are discussed in this book in an accessible yet rigorous way. Compared to the first edition, there is a new Supplement devoted to the hidden variable issue. Comments and the bibliography have also been extended and updated.