Mathematical problems of stochastic quantum mechanics: Harmonic analysis on phase space and quantum geometry

Abstract

In this paper we review the mathematical methods and problems that are specific to the programme of stochastic quantum mechanics and quantum spacetime. The physical origin of these problems is explained, and then the mathematical models are developed. Three notions emerge as central to the programme: positive operator-valued (POV) measures on a Hilbert space, reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces, and fibre bundle formulations of quantum geometries. A close connection between the first two notions is shown to exist, which provides a natural setting for introducing a fibration on the associated overcomplete family of vectors. The introduction of group covariance leads to an extended version of harmonic analysis on phase space. It also yields a theory of induced group representations, which extends the results of Mackey on imprimitivity systems for locally compact groups to the more general case of systems of covariance. Quantum geometries emerge as fibre bundles whose base spaces are manifolds of mean stochastic locations for quantum test particles (i.e., spacetime excitons) that display a phase space structure, and whose fibres and structure groups contain, respectively, the aforementioned overcomplete families of vectors and unitary group representations of phase space systems of covariance.