Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Access by Xinjiang University

Three-cocycle in quantum mechanics. II

Bernard Grossman

  • The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021

Phys. Rev. D 33, 2922 – Published 15 May, 1986

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.33.2922

Abstract

We offer a new topological interpretation of the three-cocycle in a consistent quantum mechanics. Our basis is homotopy theory. We show how higher cocycles may appear in quantum mechanics. Moreover, a three-cocycle gives rise to a nonassociative algebra describing defects in a quantum-mechanical system. We also show the relation of the three-cocycle to axions in string theory.

References (21)

  1. B. Grossman, Phys. Lett. 152 B, 93 (1985); R. Jackiw, Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 159 (1985); Phys. Lett. 154 B, 303 (1985) Y. S. Wu and A. Zee, ibid. 152 B, 98 (1985); B. Y. Hou and B. Y. Hou, Chin. Phys. Lett. (to be published).
  2. D. Boulware, S. Deser and B. Zumino, Phys. Lett. 153 B, 307 (1985). These authors were the first to point out that our understanding of the three-cocycle was incomplete. See also J. Mickelson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 2379 (1985). For a review, see R. Jackiw, Report No. CTP 1268 MIT, 1985 (unpublished). L. Baulieu and B. Grossman, Nucl. Phys. B 264, 317 (1986).
  3. M. Günaydin and B. Zumino, LBL Report No. LBL-19200 UCB-PTH 85/8, 1985 (unpublished).
  4. P. A. M. Dirac, Proc. R. Soc. London A 133, 60 (1981).
  5. Omitted end note.
  6. B. Grossman, Phys. Lett. 160 B, 94 (1985).
  7. M. F. Atiyah, V. Patodi and I. Singer, Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 79, 71 (1976); E. Witten, Phys. Lett. 117 B, 324 (1982); A. Niemi and G. Semenoff, Phys. Rep. (to be published); B. Grossman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 664 (1983); ibid. 51, 959 (1983); H. Yamagishi, Phys. Rev. D 27, 2383 (1983).
  8. K. S. Brown, Cohomology of Groups (Springer, Berlin, 1982); L. Faddeev, Phys. Lett. 145 B, 81 (1984); B. Zumino, Nucl. Phys. B 253, 477 (1985); O. Alvarez, Commun. Math. Phys. 100, 279 (1985).
  9. R. Bott and L. Tu, Differential Forms in Algebraic Topology (Springer, Berlin, 1982).
  10. Omitted end note.
  11. P. Forgacs and N. Manton, Commun. Math. Phys. 72, 1 (1980).
  12. H. Lipkin, W. Weisberger and M. Peshkin, Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 53, 203 (1969); N. Cabibbo and E. Ferrari, Nuovo Cimento 23, 241 (1962); J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 144, 1087 (1966).
  13. R. Schafer, An Introduction to Non-associative Algebras (Academic, New York, 1966).
  14. Günaydin and Zumino in Ref. 3 point out that Malcev algebras satisfy a fourth-order relation equivalent to del vec ( del veccdot B vec ) = 0. There is also a fourth-order relation in finite group theory called Teichmüller condition for nonassociative algebras. See Brown in Ref. 8.
  15. J. D. Stasheff, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 108, 275 (1963); J. F. Adams, Infinite Loop Spaces, Annals of Mathematics Studies (Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1978).
  16. A. Hochschild, The Structure of Lie Groups (Holden-Day, San Francisco, 1965).
  17. B. Grossman (in preparation).
  18. V. Poenaru and G. Toulouse, J. Phys. (Paris) 8, 887 (1977); D. Mermin, Rev. Mod. Phys. 51, 591 (1977).
  19. M. Green and J. Schwarz, Phys. Lett. 149 B, 117 (1984).
  20. E. Witten, Phys. Lett. 149 B, 351 (1984).
  21. R. Nepomechie, University of Seattle report (unpublished).

Outline

Information

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation