Foundations of Quantum Theory

Klaas Landsman (1963) obtained his PhD in Theoretical High-Energy Physics from the University of Amsterdam in 1989. He was a research fellow at the University of Cambridge from 1989-1997, with a sojourn as Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in Hamburg from 1993-94. He was subsequently a Royal Academy Research Fellow at the University of Amsterdam from 1997-2002, and obtained a Pioneer Grant from NWO in 2002. Klaas has held the Chairs in Analysis and subsequently in Mathematical Physics at the Radboud University since 2004, and in 2011 was awarded the Bronze Medal of this university for his outreach work in mathematics. His research is mainly concerned with non-commutative geometry and with the mathematical foundations of quantum theory.

“Quantum theory has frequent applications in the subjects of quantum information theory and quantum optics. The purpose of this book is to present the foundations of quantum theory in connection with classical physics, from the point of view of classical-quantum duality. … This good book is recommended for mathematicians, physicists, philosophers of physics, researchers and advanced students in this field.” (Michael M. Dediu, Mathematical Reviews, Decemeber, 2017)

• Introduction.- Part I Co(X) and B(H): Classical physics on a finite phase space.- Quantum mechanics on a finite-dimensional Hilbert space.- Classical physics on a general phase space.- Quantum physics on a general Hilbert space.- Symmetry in quantum mechanics.- Part II Between Co(X) and B(H): Classical models of quantum mechanics.- Limits: Small hbar.- Limits: large N.- Symmetry in algebraic quantum theory.- Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking.- The Measurement Problem.- Topos theory and quantum logic.- Appendix A: Finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces.- Appendix B: Basic functional analysis.- Appendix C: Operator algebras.- Appendix D: Lattices and logic.- Appendix E: Category theory and topos theory.- References.