Published November 2019 | public
Journal Article

From Operator Algebras to Complexity Theory and Back

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Abstract

Quantum mechanics and the theory of operator algebras have been intertwined since their origin. In the 1930s [20] von Neumann laid the foundations for the theory of (what are now known as) von Neumann algebras with the explicit goal of establishing Heisenberg's matrix mechanics on a rigorous footing (quoting from the preface, in the translation by Beyer: "The object of this book is to present the new quantum mechanics in a unified representation which, so far as it is possible and useful, is mathematically rigorous"). Following the initial explorations of Murray and von Neumann, the new theory took on a life of its own, eventually leading to multiple applications unrelated to quantum mechanics, such as to free probability or noncommutative geometry.

Additional Information

© 2019 American Mathematical Society. The author gratefully acknowledges support from the IQIM, an NSF Physics Frontiers Center (NSF Grant PHY-1125565) with support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF-12500028), NSF CAREER Grant CCF-1553477, AFOSR YIP award number FA9550-16-1-0495, and a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar award. I am indebted to Volkher Scholz, William Slofstra, Henry Yuen, and the Notices referees for multiple comments that greatly improved the presentation of this article.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 20, 2023