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Title: Topos models for physics and topos theory

Abstract

What is the role of topos theory in the topos models for quantum theory as used by Isham, Butterfield, Döring, Heunen, Landsman, Spitters, and others? In other words, what is the interplay between physical motivation for the models and the mathematical framework used in these models? Concretely, we show that the presheaf topos model of Butterfield, Isham, and Döring resembles classical physics when viewed from the internal language of the presheaf topos, similar to the copresheaf topos model of Heunen, Landsman, and Spitters. Both the presheaf and copresheaf models provide a “quantum logic” in the form of a complete Heyting algebra. Although these algebras are natural from a topos theoretic stance, we seek a physical interpretation for the logical operations. Finally, we investigate dynamics. In particular, we describe how an automorphism on the operator algebra induces a homeomorphism (or isomorphism of locales) on the associated state spaces of the topos models, and how elementary propositions and truth values transform under the action of this homeomorphism. Also with dynamics the focus is on the internal perspective of the topos.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, Institute for Mathematics, Astrophysics, and Particle Physics (Netherlands)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22306086
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Mathematical Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 55; Journal Issue: 8; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0022-2488
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 97 MATHEMATICAL METHODS AND COMPUTING; ALGEBRA; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS; MATHEMATICAL SPACE; QUANTUM MECHANICS; TOPOLOGY

Citation Formats

Wolters, Sander. Topos models for physics and topos theory. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4892100.
Wolters, Sander. Topos models for physics and topos theory. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4892100
Wolters, Sander. 2014. "Topos models for physics and topos theory". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4892100.
@article{osti_22306086,
title = {Topos models for physics and topos theory},
author = {Wolters, Sander},
abstractNote = {What is the role of topos theory in the topos models for quantum theory as used by Isham, Butterfield, Döring, Heunen, Landsman, Spitters, and others? In other words, what is the interplay between physical motivation for the models and the mathematical framework used in these models? Concretely, we show that the presheaf topos model of Butterfield, Isham, and Döring resembles classical physics when viewed from the internal language of the presheaf topos, similar to the copresheaf topos model of Heunen, Landsman, and Spitters. Both the presheaf and copresheaf models provide a “quantum logic” in the form of a complete Heyting algebra. Although these algebras are natural from a topos theoretic stance, we seek a physical interpretation for the logical operations. Finally, we investigate dynamics. In particular, we describe how an automorphism on the operator algebra induces a homeomorphism (or isomorphism of locales) on the associated state spaces of the topos models, and how elementary propositions and truth values transform under the action of this homeomorphism. Also with dynamics the focus is on the internal perspective of the topos.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4892100},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22306086}, journal = {Journal of Mathematical Physics},
issn = {0022-2488},
number = 8,
volume = 55,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}