Observability in
Classical Physics, Commutative Algebra and Differential
Calculus
Mathematical correspondence principle—affirming the
existence of the Quantum Differential Calculus and showing
the departing point to look for it—obviously is still too
generic and is unable to define its own boundaries. More
precise hints about the direction that must be followed can
be obtained by trying to clarify the mathematical contents
of the base paradigm of contemporary Physics stating that
it exists only that which can be observed. Fundamental
difference between Classical and Quantum Physics—as anyone
knows—is that observations in Classical Physics,
unlike those in Quantum Physics, are independent one from
another and do not change the state of the observed
object. Thus it is natural, before moving on and
looking for Quantum Differential Calculus, to formalize
mathematically the observation procedure in Classical
Physics.
From a mathematical viewpoint, the measuring devices
gathered into a classical lab can be interpreted as the
generators of a commutative algebra on the real numbers
which can be called "Algebra of Observables". Any concrete
observation of the physical system under inspection is
nothing but an homomorphism from the algebra of observables
onto the algebra of real numbers, and thus a concrete state
of the system is identified with such an homomorphism. In
other words, the variety of all the states of the physical
system under consideration coincides with the R-spectrum of
the algebra of observables. This fact leads to think that
all the information about the dynamical structure, etc., of
the system might be expressed exclusively in terms of the
algebra of observables. On the other hand we know de
facto that such an information can be lent by
Differential Calculus. Ergo, by putting together
these two considerations we are lead to the conclusion that
Differential Calculus is an aspect of Commutative
Algebra, and as such it can be built only on the basis of
arithmetic operations without adding ingredients of
topological or other nature.
Actually we found out that all the aspects of Differential
Calculus—and consequently the theory of differential
equations, Differential Geometry, Differential Topology,
and so on—can be constructed over an arbitrary commutative
algebra. The logical scheme of such a construction is
furnished by the so-called functors of Differential
Calculus, ad it might be called "Primary"
Differential Calculus. Moreover, the fact that Differential
Calculus is an aspect of Commutative Algebra can be
interpreted as a confirmation of the validity of the
principles we have been formulating so far.