From observables and states to Hilbert space and back: a 2-categorical adjunction

DOI10.1007/S10485-018-9522-6zbMATH Open1408.81017arXiv1609.08975OpenAlexW2525343210WikidataQ130112733 ScholiaQ130112733MaRDI QIDQ1633192FDOQ1633192

Authors: Arthur J. Parzygnat 

Publication date: 19 December 2018

Published in: Applied Categorical Structures (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Given a representation of a C*-algebra, thought of as an abstract collection of physical observables, together with a unit vector, one obtains a state on the algebra via restriction. We show that the Gelfand-Naimark-Segal (GNS) construction furnishes a left adjoint of this restriction. To properly formulate this adjoint, it must be viewed as a weak natural transformation, a 1-morphism in a suitable 2-category, rather than as a functor between categories. Weak naturality encodes the functoriality and the universal property of adjunctions encodes the characterizing features of the GNS construction. Mathematical definitions and results are accompanied by physical interpretations.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1609.08975

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zbMATH Keywords

algebraic quantum theoryGNS constructionstates on \(C^*\)-algebras

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General theory of (C^*)-algebras (46L05) States of selfadjoint operator algebras (46L30) General theory of von Neumann algebras (46L10) Operator algebra methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81R15)

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Cited In (6)

• A new perspective on observables in the category of relations: a spectral presheaf for relations
• Non-commutative disintegrations: existence and uniqueness in finite dimensions
• SVD entanglement entropy
• Stinespring's construction as an adjunction
• A categorical framework for the quantum harmonic oscillator
• A diagrammatic derivation of the Hermitian adjoint

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