Information geometry, dynamics and discrete quantum mechanics

Abstract

We consider a system with a discrete configuration space. We show that the geometrical structures associated with such a system provide the tools necessary for a reconstruction of discrete quantum mechanics once dynamics is brought into the picture. We do this in three steps. Our starting point is information geometry, the natural geometry of the space of probability distributions. Dynamics requires additional structure. To evolve the probabilities $P^k$, we introduce coordinates $S^k$ canonically conjugate to the $P^k$ and a symplectic structure. We then seek to extend the metric structure of information geometry, to define a geometry over the full space of the $P^k$ and $S^k$. Consistency between the metric tensor and the symplectic form forces us to introduce a Kähler geometry. The construction has notable features. A complex structure is obtained in a natural way. The canonical coordinates of the Kähler space are precisely the wave functions of quantum mechanics. The full group of unitary transformations is obtained. Finally, one may associate a Hilbert space with the Kähler space, which leads to the standard version of quantum theory. We also show that the metric that we derive here using purely geometrical arguments is precisely the one that leads to Wootters' expression for the statistical distance for quantum systems.

12 pages. Presented at MaxEnt 2012, the 32nd International Workshop on Bayesian Inference and Maximum Entropy Methods in Science and Engineering, July 15-20, 2012, Garching near Munich, Germany. Updated version includes corrections of typos and minor revisions

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