Geometric quantization of reduced cotangent bundles (Q1921968): Difference between revisions

Assuming that the compact Lie group \(H\) acts freely on the Riemannian manifold \(N\) equipped with \(H\)-invariant metric so that \(N\) is a principle \(H\)-bundle over the base manifold \(Q=N/H\), the author approaches the quantization of the symplectic manifold \(T^*H\). Combining group-theoretical and geometric quantization techniques he is able to exhibit a specific polarization along with a subclass of observables which can be quantized directly and generates the group \(\text{Aut }N\ltimes C^\infty(Q)\). This point of view unifies the different methods for quantization of homogeneous spaces as developed by \textit{G. W. Mackey} [Induced representations of groups and quantum mechanics, Benjamin, New York (1968; Zbl 0174.28101)], \textit{C. J. Isham} [Topological and global aspects of quantum theory, In: Relativity, Groups and Topology, Eds. B. S. Dewitt and R. Stora, North-Holland, Amsterdam 1059-1290 (1984; Zbl 0593.53063)], \textit{N. P. Landsman} [Rev. Math. Phys. 4, No. 4, 503-527 (1992; Zbl 0770.53056)] and \textit{J. H. Rawnsley} [Math. Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc. 78, 345-350 (1975; Zbl 0313.22014)] and allows incorporation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect and Wu-Yang nonintegrable phase factor as well. As an example the case \(N=\text{SU}(2)\) and \(H=U(1)\) is presented in some details. It should be remarked, however, that the general approach to quantization of constrained systems via geometric quantization of the momentum map was spelled out by the reviewer and \textit{V. Tsanov} [cf. `Group representations and quantization of the momentum map', In: Quantization and Coherent States Methods, Eds. S. T. Ali et al, World Scientific, Singapore, 11-16 (1992) and J. Phys. A, Math. Gen. 26, No. 23, 7115-7123 (1993; Zbl 0822.58025)] but unfortunately is not even referenced.