Quantizations of R(eal numbers)

TL;DR

This paper introduces quantum real numbers via a q-deformation of the real line, resulting in discrete, fuzzy spaces with nontrivial infinitesimal structures around real numbers.

Contribution

It develops a novel framework for quantum real numbers using q-deformed Heisenberg algebra and derives discrete, fuzzy quantum real lines with complex local structures.

Findings

Quantum real lines are discrete spaces.

Fuzzy points appear for q as roots of unity.

Infinitesimal structures emerge around real numbers.

Abstract

Quantum real numbers are proposed by performing a quantum deformation of the standard real numbers $\R$. We start with the q-deformed Heisenberg algebra $\cLLq$ which is obtained by the Moyal $\ast$-deformation of the Heisenberg algebra generated by $a$ and $\ad$. By representing $\cLLq$ as the algebras of $q$-differentiable functions, we derive quantum real lines from the base spaces of these functional algebras. We find that these quantum lines are discrete spaces. In particular, for the case with $q = e^{2\pi i \frac{1}{N}} $, the quantum real line is composed of fuzzy, i.e., fluctuating points and nontrivial infinitesimal structure appears around every standard real number.