Effect algebra
Effect algebras are algebraic structures of a kind introduced by D. Foulis and M. Bennett to serve as a framework for unsharp measurements in quantum mechanics.[1]
An effect algebra consists of an underlying set A equipped with a partial binary operation ⊞, a unary operation (−)⊥, and two special elements 0, 1 such that the following relationships hold:[2]
- The binary operation is commutative: if a ⊞ b is defined, then so is b ⊞ a, and they are equal.
- The binary operation is associative: if a ⊞ b and (a ⊞ b) ⊞ c are defined, then so are b ⊞ c and a ⊞ (b ⊞ c), and (a ⊞ b) ⊞ c = a ⊞ (b ⊞ c).
- The zero element behaves as expected: 0 ⊞ a is always defined and equals a.
- The unary operation is an orthocomplementation: for each a ∈ A, a⊥ is the unique element of A for which a ⊞ a⊥ = 1.
- A zero-one law holds: if a ⊞ 1 is defined, then a = 0.
Every effect algebra carries a natural order: define a ≤ b if and only if there exists an element c such that a ⊞ c exists and is equal to b. The defining axioms of effect algebras guarantee that ≤ is a partial order.[3]
Examples
The motivating example of an effect algebra is the set of effects on a unital C*-algebra, i.e. the elements satisfying . The addition operation on is defined when and then . The involution is given by .
Other examples include any orthomodular poset (and thus any Boolean algebra).
Types of effect algebras
There are various types of effect algebras that have been studied.
- Interval effect algebras that arise as an interval of some ordered Abelian group .
- Convex effect algebras have an action of the real unit interval on the algebra. A representation theorem of Gudder shows that these all arise as an interval effect algebra of a real ordered vector space.[4]
- Lattice effect algebras where the order structure forms a lattice.
- Effect algebras satisfying the Riesz decomposition property.[5]
- An MV-algebra is precisely a lattice effect algebra with the Riesz decomposition property.[6]
- Sequential effect algebras have an additional sequential product operation that models the Lüders product on a C*-algebra.[7]
- Effect monoids are the monoids in the category of effect algebras. They are effect algebras that have an additional associative unital distributive multiplication operation.[8]
References
- D. Foulis and M. Bennett. "Effect algebras and unsharp quantum logics", Found. Phys., 24(10):1331–1352, 1994.
- Frank Roumen, "Cohomology of effect algebras" arXiv:1602.00567
- Roumen, Frank (2016-02-02). "Cohomology of effect algebras". Electronic Proceedings in Theoretical Computer Science. 236: 174–201. arXiv:1602.00567. doi:10.4204/EPTCS.236.12. S2CID 16707878.
- Gudder, Stanley (1999-12-01). "Convex Structures and Effect Algebras". International Journal of Theoretical Physics. 38 (12): 3179–3187. doi:10.1023/A:1026678114856. ISSN 1572-9575. S2CID 115468918.
- Pulmannova, Sylvia (1999-09-01). "Effect Algebras with the Riesz Decomposition Property and AF C*-Algebras". Foundations of Physics. 29 (9): 1389–1401. doi:10.1023/A:1018809209768. ISSN 1572-9516. S2CID 117445132.
- Foulis, D. J. (2000-10-01). "MV and Heyting Effect Algebras". Foundations of Physics. 30 (10): 1687–1706. doi:10.1023/A:1026454318245. ISSN 1572-9516. S2CID 116763476.
- Gudder, Stan; Greechie, Richard (2002-02-01). "Sequential products on effect algebras". Reports on Mathematical Physics. 49 (1): 87–111. doi:10.1016/S0034-4877(02)80007-6. ISSN 0034-4877.
- Jacobs, Bart; Mandemaker, Jorik (2012-07-01). "Coreflections in Algebraic Quantum Logic". Foundations of Physics. 42 (7): 932–958. doi:10.1007/s10701-012-9654-8. ISSN 1572-9516.