Quantization of the Kepler manifold (Q1110149)

Being fiberwise compactified the phase space \(T^*({\mathbb{R}}^ n\setminus 0)\) of n-dimensional Kepler problem becomes a coadjoint orbit of Lie group \(G=SO(2,n+1)\) symplectomorphic to the ``Kepler manifold'' \(T^*S^ n\setminus (zero\) section). Sourian-Kostant quantization of the problem i.e. irreducible representation of G by means of pseudodifferential operators on \(L_ 2(S^ n)\) is constructed. It is based on preliminary quantization of the natural action of G on ``extended phase space'' \(T^*(S^ 1\times S^ n)\) with 5 orbits two of which are Kepler manifolds. Corresponding representation contains an irreducible component isomorphic to \(L_ 2(S^ n)\) and unitary under restriction to the physically relevant subgroup \(SO(2)\times SO(n+1)\).