Deformation theory applied to quantization and statistical mechanics (Q1059911)

The transition from a classical to a quantum system (parameter \(\hslash)\) can be described on phase space W by a deformation, depending on \(\hslash\), of the classical composition law for observables or functions on W. The deformations of the multiplication and Poisson bracket of functions on W are defined as the star product and the brackets, deformed in \(\hslash\). The authors introduce a second deformation of a starred system, depending on a second parameter \(\beta\), to describe the transition to quantum statistical mechanics with the interpretation \(\beta =1/kT\). The limit \(\hslash \to 0\) of this structure is shown to determine a classical system with a conformal Poisson structure, depending on a conformal factor f(\(\beta)\). The concepts are applied to thermodynamic equilibrium and corresponding KMS-states. It is found that these (quantum and classical) states are characterized by vanishing on the brackets, deformed in \(\hslash\), \(\beta\) or in \(\beta\) respectively, of any two observables, multiplied by the corresponding conformal factor.