The mixture of quantum states
- 1 June 1974
- journal article
- Published by AIP Publishing in Journal of Mathematical Physics
- Vol. 15 (6) , 842-850
- https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1666739
Abstract
Convex prestructures, a mathematical framework that extends the usual concept of convex subset of a real linear space, are employed to generalize methods used in the study of axiomatic quantum mechanics. A brief summary of the mathematical framework of convex prestructures is given. Convex prestructures are classified, and those which are isomorphic to a convex subset of a real linear space are characterized. The operational quantum mechanics of Davies and Lewis is generalized within the framework of convex prestructures and the existence of a physically motivated orthomodular poset is given. Mielnik's beams and filters are also discussed within the framework of convex prestructures. An error in Mielnik's formulation of beam mixtures is pointed out and it is shown that his beam mixtures and one classification of convex prestructures are equivalent. Also his concept of a filter is generalized in the framework of convex prestructures and geometric requirements needed on the set of normalized states so that they may correspond to a physical system are investigated. Finally, Mackey's axioms are discussed and reformulated in the language of P-convex structures.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Attempt of an axiomatic foundation of quantum mechanics and more general theories VICommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1971
- Attempt of an axiomatic foundation of quantum mechanics and more general theories VCommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1969
- Quantum stochastic processesCommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1969
- Theory of filtersCommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1969
- Attempt of an axiomatic foundation of quantum mechanics and more general theories. IVCommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1968
- Geometry of quantum statesCommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1968
- Attempt of an axiomatic foundation of quantum mechanics and more general theories. IIICommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1968
- On the algebraic structure of quantum mechanicsCommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1967
- Attempt of an axiomatic foundation of quantum mechanics and more general theories, IICommunications in Mathematical Physics, 1967
- An Algebraic Approach to Quantum Field TheoryJournal of Mathematical Physics, 1964