Clifford algebras, quantum mechanics and Fibonacci-like sequences (Q1842508)

Weyl's program for quantum description of states, according to which the basic relationships in quantum mechanics are derivable from group theoretical symmetry principle, is illustrated for the case of simplest Galois fields. The essential element of this program is a transitive system of imprimitives: \((M, G)\) denote a topological space \(M\) and the locally compact transformation group \(G\) acting transitively on \(M\) (the configuration space of a dynamical system). The authors consider a very simple realization of Weyl's program by identifying \(M\) with \(Z_ n\), in addition to the group \(G\) to be of finite order, \(G= Z_ n\) (\(n\)-prime). The unitary representation of \(G\)- group action on \(M\) is then realized. The group generated is the generalized Pauli (or Dirac) group while the corresponding algebra is the special case of the generalized Clifford algebra. The dynamics are introduced by the propagation in its discrete version, which is then viewed upon as unitary matrices (Hanney and Berry). This is considered as a formal quantization of classical maps. Equivalence of a class of problems for specific classical mappings to those of coding theory is indicated and illustrated.