Abstract
In [20, 21] the authors show how it is possible to interpret self-adjoint operators affiliated with a von Neumann algebra \(\mathcal {N}\), as real-valued functions on the projection lattice \(P(\mathcal {N})\) of the algebra. These functions are called q-observable functions . The method of utilising real-valued function on \(P(\mathcal {N})\) to define self-adjoint operators was first introduced in [12] and, independently, in [8]. However, the novelty of the approach defined [20, 21] consists in the fact that these real valued functions are related to both the daseinisation map, central to topos quantum theory, and to quantum probabilities.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Given two posets (P, ≤ p ) and (Q, ≤ q ), then a map f : P → Q is called monotone (order-preserving) if for all a, b ∈ P, when a ≤ p b then f(a) ≤ q f(b).
- 2.
A conditionally complete lattice is a lattice in which every non-empty bounded subset has a least upper bound and a greatest lower bound. As an example of a conditionally-complete lattice one may take the set of all real numbers with the usual order.
- 3.
A lattice is complemented if every element a has a complement a ⊥. It is orthocomplemented if it is equipped with an involution that sends each element to a complement. An orthomodular lattice is an orthocomplemented lattice such that a ≤ c implies that a ∨ (a ⊥∧ c) = c.
- 4.
Here the notation A −1 is only symbolic since there may not exist any function A whose inverse is A −1. We used this notation to resemble the Definition in 5.5.2.
References
H. Comman, Upper regularization for extended self-adjoint operators. J. Oper. Theory 55(1), 91–116 (2006)
H.F. de Groote, Observables IV: the presheaf perspective (2007). arXiv:0708.0677 [math-ph]
A. Doering, B. Dewitt, Self-adjoint operators as functions I: lattices, Galois connections, and the spectral order (2012). arXiv:1208.4724 [math-ph]
A. Doering, B. Dewitt, Self-adjoint operators as functions II: quantum probability. arXiv:1210.5747 [math-ph]
C. Flori, A First Course in Topos Quantum Theory. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol. 868 (Springer, Heidelberg, 2013)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Flori, C. (2018). Interpreting Self-Adjoint Operators as q-Functions. In: A Second Course in Topos Quantum Theory. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 944. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71108-9_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71108-9_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71107-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-71108-9
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)