I prove that every finite-dimensional Poisson manifold X admits a canonical deformation quantization. Informally, it means that the set of equivalence classes of associative algebras close to the algebra of functions on X is in one-to-one correspondence with the set of equivalence classes of Poisson structures on X modulo diffeomorphisms. In fact, a more general statement is proven (the ‘Formality conjecture’), relating the Lie superalgebra of polyvector fields on X and the Hochschild complex of the algebra of functions on X. Coefficients in explicit formulas for the deformed product can be interpreted as correlators in a topological open string theory, although I do not explicitly use the language of functional integrals.

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Deformation Quantization of Poisson Manifolds

An Alternative to quintessence

This article reviews the generalization of field theory to space-time with noncommuting coordinates, starting with the basics and covering most of the active directions of research. Such theories are now known to emerge from limits of M theory and string theory and to describe quantum Hall states. In the last few years they have been studied intensively, and many qualitatively new phenomena have been discovered, on both the classical and the quantum level.

Noncommutative field theory

I prove that every finite-dimensional Poisson manifold X admits a canonical deformation quantization. Informally, it means that the set of equivalence classes of associative algebras close to the algebra of functions on X is in one-to-one correspondence with the set of equivalence classes of Poisson structures on X modulo diffeomorphisms. In fact, a more general statement is proven ("Formality conjecture"), relating the Lie superalgebra of polyvector fields on X and the Hochschild complex of the algebra of functions on X. Coefficients in explicit formulas for the deformed product can be interpreted as correlators in a topological open string theory, although I do not use explicitly the language of functional integrals. One of corollaries is a justification of the orbit method in the representation theory.

Deformation quantization of Poisson manifolds, I

Quantum field theory on noncommutative spaces

For general compact Kahler manifolds it is shown that both Toeplitz quantization and geometric quantization lead to a well-defined (by operator norm estimates) classical limit. This generalizes earlier results of teh authors and Klimek and Lesniewski obtained for the tours and higher genus Riemann surfaces, respectively. We thereby arrive at an approximation of the Poisson algebra by a sequence of finitedimensional matrix algebrasgl(N), N→∞.

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Toeplitz quantization of Kähler manifolds ang gl(N), N→∞ limits

For general compact K\"ahler manifolds it is shown that both Toeplitz quantization and geometric quantization lead to a well-defined (by operator norm estimates) classical limit. This generalizes earlier results of the authors and Klimek and Lesniewski obtained for the torus and higher genus Riemann surfaces, respectively. We thereby arrive at an approximation of the Poisson algebra by a sequence of finite-dimensional matrix algebras $gl(N)$, $N\to\infty$.

Toeplitz Quantization of K\"ahler Manifolds and $gl(N)$ $N\to\infty$

The dynamics of relativistic membranes. Reduction to 2-dimensional fluid dynamics

In this Letter we compute some elementary properties of the Fedosov star product of Weyl type, such as symmetry and order of differentiation. Moreover, we define the notion of a star product of the Wick type on every Kahler manifold by a straightforward generalization of the corresponding star product in Cn: the corresponding sequence of bidifferential operators differentiates its first argument in holomorphic directions and its second argument in antiholomorphic directions. By a Fedosov type procedure, we give an existence proof of such star products for any Kahler manifold.

A Fedosov Star Product of Wick Type for Kähler Manifolds

We greatly simplify the light-cone gauge description of a relativistic membrane moving in Minkowski space by performing a field-dependent change of variables which allows the explicit solution of all constraints and a Hamiltonian reduction to a $SO(1,3)$ invariant $2+1$-dimensional theory of isentropic gas dynamics, where the pressure is inversely proportional to (minus) the mass-density. Simple expressions for the generators of the Poincar\'e group are given. We also find a generalized Lax pair which involves as a novel feature complex conjugation. The extension to the supersymmetric case, as well as to higher-dimensional minimal surfaces of codimension one is briefly mentioned.

Martin Bordemann

Papers

Toeplitz quantization of Kähler manifolds ang gl(N), N→∞ limits

Toeplitz Quantization of K\"ahler Manifolds and $gl(N)$ $N\to\infty$

The dynamics of relativistic membranes. Reduction to 2-dimensional fluid dynamics

A Fedosov Star Product of Wick Type for Kähler Manifolds

The Dynamics of Relativistic Membranes I: Reduction to 2-dimensional Fluid Dynamics