Obstruction results in quantization theory (Q2563691)

It is well-known that fifty years ago Groenewold and van Hove have discovered obstructions to quantizations. Their no -- go theorems assert that it is impossible to consistently quantize every classical observable on the phase space \(\mathbb{R}^{2n}\). A similar obstruction was recently found by Gotay for \(S^2\), buttressing up the common belief that no -- go theorems should hold in some generality. Surprisingly enough this is not so -- recently Gotay has proven that there is no obstruction to quantizing a torus. In the paper under review the authors take first steps towards delineating the circumstances under which such obstructions will appear and understanding the mechanisms which produce them. Their objectives are to conjecture a generalized Groenewald -- van Hove theorem and to determine the maximal subalgebras of observables which can be consistently quantized. Their discussion is independent of any particular method of quantization. In conclusion a very nice paper.