On the \(\theta\)-theories and the multivalued wave functions (Q1080208)

The configuration space of Yang-Mills-theory is in general not simply connected. This paper is an attempt to generalize quantum mechanics on a manifold M with non-trivial fundamental group \(\pi_ 1(M)\). The wave functions \(\psi\) are assumed to be multi-valued, in fact complex valued functions defined on the universal cover of M, which are also quasiperiodic with respect to some character \(\theta\) of \(\pi_ 1(M)\). The quasiperiodicity has the effect, that the observables which one can compute from the wave functions are again single valued functions on M. It is also shown, that the theory presented here is equivalent to existing theories based on representations of the canonical commutation relations.