Unitarity in ``Quantization commutes with reduction

From MaRDI portal
Publication:2472485



Abstract: Let M be a compact Kahler manifold equipped with a Hamiltonian action of a compact Lie group G. In this paper, we study the geometric quantization of the symplectic quotient M//G. Guillemin and Sternberg [Invent. Math. 67 (1982), 515--538] have shown, under suitable regularity assumptions, that there is a natural invertible map between the quantum Hilbert space over M//G and the G-invariant subspace of the quantum Hilbert space over M. We prove that in general the natural map of Guillemin and Sternberg is not unitary, extit{even to leading order in Planck's constant}. We then modify the quantization procedure by the "metaplectic correction" and show that in this setting there is still a natural invertible map between the Hilbert space over M//G and the G-invariant subspace of the Hilbert space over M. We then prove that this modified Guillemin--Sternberg map is asymptotically unitary to leading order in Planck's constant.


Let \((M,\omega)\) be an integral compact Kähler manifold endowed with a Hamiltonian action of a compact Lie group \(G\). Choose an Hermitian line bundle \(l\) over \(M\) with a compatible connection \(\nabla \) in such a way that its curvature is \((-i\omega)\); \(l\) is called a prequantum bundle for \(M\). A classical result of \textit{V. Guillemin} and \textit{S. Sternberg} [Invent. Math. 67, 515--538 (1982; Zbl 0503.58018)] is that there is a natural invertible linear map between the ``first reduce and then quantize space (the space of all holomorphic sections of the bundle \({\hat l}^{\otimes k}\) over the symplectic quotient \(M//G\)) and the ``first quantize and then reduce space (the space of \(G\)-invariant holomorphic sections of the bundle \(l^{\otimes k}\) over \(M\)) where \(l^{\otimes k}\) is the \(k\)th tensor power of \(l\), and in this setting we interpret \(k\) as the reciprocal of Planck's constant \(\hbar \). From the point of view of quantum mechanics, it is not just the vector space structure of the quantum Hilbert space that is important, but also the inner product and so, it is natural to investigate the extent to which the Guillemin-Sternberg map is unitary. The authors modify the quantization procedure by the metaplectic correction (which involves tensoring the original line bundle with the square root of the canonical bundle, assuming that such a square root exists) and show the existence of a natural map of Guillemin-Sternberg type in this new setting which is invertible for all sufficiently large values of the tensor power \(k\). Also, they prove that this modified Guillemin-Sternberg map, unlike the original one, is asymptotically unitary in the limit as \(k\) tends to infinity.



Cites work









This page was built for publication: Unitarity in ``Quantization commutes with reduction

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2472485)