nLab
Weyl algebra

Given a field k, the n-th Weyl algebra A n,k is an associative unital algebra over k generated by the symbols x 1,,x n, 1,, n modulo relations x ix j=x jx i, i j= j i and ix jx j i=δ i j (the Kronecker delta?). In characteristic zero, it agrees with the algebra of regular differential operators on the n-dimensional affine space.

Sometimes one considers the Weyl algebras over an arbitrary k-algebra R, including noncommutative R, when the definition is simply A n,k kR. Another generalization are the symplectic Weyl algebras.

In quantum physics, one often studies Weyl algebras over the complex numbers; the usual notation there is p j for i j (where i is the imaginary unit).

Please distinguish from Weil algebra.