q-Deformed Heisenberg Algebras

Abstract

This lecture consists of two sections. In section 1 we consider the simplest version of a q-deformed Heisenberg algebra as an example of a noncommutative structure. We first derive a calculus entirely based on the algebra and then formulate laws of physics based on this calculus. Then we realize that an interpretation of these laws is only possible if we study representations of the algebra and adopt the quantum mechanical scheme. It turns out that observables like position or momentum have discrete eigenvalues and thus space gets a lattice-like structure. In section 2 we study a framework for higher dimensional noncommutative spaces based on quantum groups. The Poincare-Birkhoff-Witt property and conjugation properties play an essential role there. In these spaces derivatives are introduced and based on these derivatives a q-deformed Heisenberg algebra can be constructed.