Branched Quantization

We propose a method for quantization of Lagrangians for which the Hamiltonian, as a function of momentum, is a branched function, possibly with cusps. Appropriate boundary conditions, which we identify, ensure unitary time evolution. In special cases a dual (canonical) transformation maps the proble...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shapere, Alfred, Wilczek, Frank
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Format: Article
Language:en_US
Published: American Physical Society 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/75432
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6489-6155
Description
Summary:We propose a method for quantization of Lagrangians for which the Hamiltonian, as a function of momentum, is a branched function, possibly with cusps. Appropriate boundary conditions, which we identify, ensure unitary time evolution. In special cases a dual (canonical) transformation maps the problem into a problem of quantum mechanics on singular spaces, which we also develop. Several possible applications are indicated.