Quantum Mechanics On Spaces With Finite Fundamental Group

Abstract

We consider in general terms dynamical systems with finite-dimensional, non-simply connected configuration-spaces. The fundamental group is assumed to be finite. We analyze in full detail those ambiguities in the quantization procedure that arise from the non-simply connectedness of the classical configuration space. We define the quantum theory on the universal cover but restrict the algebra of observables $Ø$ to the commutant of the algebra generated by deck-transformations. We apply standard superselection principles and construct the corresponding sectors. We emphasize the relevance of all sectors and not just the abelian ones.

40 Pages, Plain-TeX, no figures