The quantization of constrained systems: from symplectic reduction to Rieffel induction

Abstract

This is an introduction to the author's recent work on constrained systems. Firstly, a generalization of the Marsden-Weinstein reduction procedure in symplectic geometry is presented - this is a reformulation of ideas of Mikami-Weinstein and Xu. Secondly, it is shown how this procedure is quantized by Rieffel induction, a technique in operator algebra theory. The essential point is that a symplectic space with generalized moment map is quantized by a pre-(Hilbert) C^*-module. The connection with Dirac's constrained quantization method is explained. Three examples with a single constraint are discussed in some detail: the reduced space is either singular, or defined by a constraint with incomplete flow, or unproblematic but still interesting. In all cases, our quantization procedure may be carried out. Finally, we re-interpret and generalize Mackey's quantization on homogeneous spaces. This provides a double illustration of the connection between C^*-modules and the moment map.