Dynamical equivalence, commutation relations and noncommutative geometry

Abstract

We revisit Wigner's question about the admissible commutation relations for coordinate and velocity operators given their equations of motion (EOM). In more general terms we want to consider the question of how to quantize dynamically equivalent Hamiltonian structures. A unique answer can presumably be given in those cases, where we have a dynamical symmetry. In this case arbitrary deformations of the symmetry algebra should be dynamically equivalent. We illustrate this for the linear as well as the singular 1d-oscillator. In the case of nonlinear EOM quantum corrections have to be taken into account. We present some examples thereof New phenomena arise in case of more then one degree of freedom, where sometimes the interaction can be described either by the Hamiltonian or by nonstandard commutation relations. This may induce a noncommutative geometry (for example the 2d-oscillator in a constant magnetic field). Also some related results from nonrelativistic quantum field theory applied to solid state physics are briefly discussed within this framework