Eigenfunction expansions and transformation theory (Q973778)

Eigenfunction expansions appear in various domains such as in the Dirac formulation of quantum mechanics, where each complete set of commuting observables (csco) \(A_1 , A_2, \dots, A_n\) is supposed to have a generalized basis of kets \(| \lambda_1, \lambda_2, \dots, \lambda_n\rangle\). Given two different csco with respective generalized bases, \textit{P. A. M. Dirac} [``The principles of quantum mechanics'' (International Series of Monographs on Physics) (London: Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press) (\({}^4\)1958; Zbl 0080.22005)] introduced linear transformation formulas relating coordinates of a pure state in both bases. However, those integral kernels in Dirac's formulas lose its mathematical meaning in infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. This paper intends to provide the transformation theory with a new mathematical treatment. In this paper, transformation formulas relating different generalized bases of eigenfunction expansions are obtained as limits of integrals like those appeared in Dirac's work, but well defined kernels. These approximate integral functionals are provided by the Vitali approach to Radon-Nikodým derivatives in both direct integral and Gelfand triplet frameworks. Some remarks are also made about other approaches using martingale theory or generalized Cauchy-Stieltjes and Poisson integrals.