GNS covariance under a *-isomorphism #
The GNS data transports covariantly along an isomorphism of the algebras. Let
Φ : A ≃⋆ₐ[ℂ] B be a *-isomorphism of unital C*-algebras and ω a state on
B. Then the GNS representation of the pullback state ω ∘ Φ (State.comp) is
unitarily equivalent to π_ω ∘ Φ.
The mechanism is GNS uniqueness. Because Φ is surjective, the pulled-back
representation π_ω ∘ Φ of A on the same Hilbert space H_ω has the same
cyclic vector Ω_ω (the two orbits coincide as sets), and it reproduces ω ∘ Φ
by the defining equation of the pullback state. So (H_ω, π_ω ∘ Φ, Ω_ω) and any
GNS triple of ω ∘ Φ are two cyclic representations of A attached to the one
state ω ∘ Φ, and gns_unique supplies the intertwining unitary.
Combined with the invariance of irreducibility and factoriality under unitary equivalence, this is the mechanism by which superselection sectors transport along an isomorphism of the observable algebra.
Cyclicity pulls back along a surjective *-homomorphism. If Ω is cyclic
for π : B →⋆ₐ[ℂ] (H →L[ℂ] H) and Φ : A →⋆ₐ[ℂ] B is surjective, then Ω is
cyclic for the composite representation π ∘ Φ of A: surjectivity makes the two
orbits {π (Φ a) Ω} and {π b Ω} coincide as sets, so density transfers.
GNS covariance: along a *-isomorphism Φ : A → B, the GNS data of ω ∘ Φ and of ω correspond.
Let ω be a state on B, (H₁, π₁, Ω₁) a cyclic representation of A reproducing the pullback ω ∘ Φ
(State.comp), and (H₂, π₂, Ω₂) a cyclic representation of B reproducing ω. Then there is a
unitary U : H₁ → H₂ with UΩ₁ = Ω₂ and
U π₁(a) = π₂(Φ(a)) U for all a ∈ A.
So relabelling the observables by an isomorphism changes the GNS representation only by a
unitary. The proof applies GNS uniqueness (gns_unique) to π₁ and to π₂ ∘ Φ, which has the
same cyclic vector Ω₂ because Φ is surjective (isCyclicVector_comp_of_surjective). For a
Haag–Kastler net, Φ can be the covariance isomorphism α_L of Axiom 5 between local algebras.
Implementation note: U is a linear isometric equivalence H₁ ≃ₗᵢ[ℂ] H₂, and the intertwining is
stated pointwise, U(π₁(a)x) = π₂(Φ(a))(Ux).
Blueprint: thrm:gns-covariance
The GNS representation of a pullback state ω ∘ Φ is unitarily equivalent to π ∘ Φ.
With the hypotheses of exists_unitary_of_gns_comp, π₁ and the composite π₂ ∘ Φ are unitarily
equivalent representations of A (UnitaryEquiv). Since unitary equivalence preserves
irreducibility and the factor property, the sector type is transported along Φ
(isIrreducible_iff_of_gns_comp, isFactor_iff_of_gns_comp).
Blueprint: thrm:gns-covariance-unitary-equiv
Transport of the representation type along a surjection #
Pullback along a surjection preserves the image. For surjective
Φ : A →⋆ₐ[ℂ] B, the composite π ∘ Φ has the same image as π.
Irreducibility is unchanged by pullback along a surjection. Irreducibility is
triviality of the commutant of the image, and the image is unchanged, so π ∘ Φ is
irreducible exactly when π is.
The generated von Neumann algebra is unchanged by pullback along a surjection.
Both are the double commutant of the same image: (π ∘ Φ)(A)'' = π(B)''.
Irreducibility transports along a *-isomorphism. With the GNS hypotheses of
exists_unitary_of_gns_comp, the GNS representation of the pullback state ω ∘ Φ is
irreducible exactly when the GNS representation of ω is.
Factoriality transports along a *-isomorphism. With the GNS hypotheses of
exists_unitary_of_gns_comp, π₁(A)'' is a factor exactly when π₂(B)'' is. So an
isomorphism of the observable algebra preserves the type of the superselection sector.