nLab Hilb

Definition

A category whose objects are Hilbert spaces is typically denoted $Hilb$ or similar.

There are different choices of morphisms in use, such as all linear maps or just the short linear maps (linear maps of norm at most $1$).

One may regard $Hilb$ as a dagger category with morphisms the bounded linear maps between them and the dagger operation assigning adjoint operators. The full subcategory $Fin Hilb$ of finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces becomes a dagger compact category.

Note that either way, the core (of isomorphisms in the first case, or of unitary isomorphisms in the other case) is the same groupoid, whose morphisms are all invertible linear maps of norm exactly $1$.

In any case, the forgetful functor from $Hilb$ to Vect is faithful, confirming the intuition that a Hilbert space is a vector space equipped with extra structure. $Hilb$ is also a full subcategory of Ban, the category of Banach spaces.

Explicit definition

Assuming excluded middle, $Hilb_\mathbb{R}$ is a concrete dagger category with

• a tensor product $\otimes$ and tensor unit $\Iota$, such that $(Hilb_\mathbb{R},\otimes,\Iota)$ is a symmetric monoidal dagger category and $\Iota$ is a simple object and a monoidal separator,

• a biproduct $\oplus$ and zero object $0$ such that $(Hilb_\mathbb{R},\oplus,0)$ is a semiadditive dagger category

• a dagger equaliser? $eq$ such that $(Hilb_\mathbb{R},\oplus,0,eq)$ is a finitely complete dagger category?

• a directed colimit $\underrightarrow{lim} F$ for any inductive system $F$ in the wide sub-dagger category of objects and dagger monomorphisms.

• a morphism $g:B \to C$ for any dagger monomorphism $f:A \to B$ such that $g = eq(f,0_B \circ 0_A^\dagger)$

However, without excluded middle, this definition fails to result in the category of Hilbert spaces over the real or complex numbers. That a dagger monomorphism $f:H \to I$ is either zero or invertible (in a symmetric monoidal dagger category where $\Iota$ is a simple monoidal separator) implies excluded middle, and Solèr’s theorem? also implies excluded middle. It is currently unknown what modifications are needed to the axioms and to Solèr’s theorem to result in a definition valid without propositional excluded middle in the type theory. It is also unknown what type of real or complex numbers would be derived from the modified axioms and modified Soler’s theorem in constructive mathematics.

Related concepts

• quantum mechanics

• finite quantum mechanics in terms of dagger-compact categories

• tensor product of Banach spaces

• semiadditive dagger category

• compact closed dagger category

References

A pedagogical description of the monoidal category structure on $Hilb$ with an emphasis on their role in quantum mechanics and their relation to nCob:

• John Baez, The monoidal category of Hilbert spaces (web)

An axiomatic characterization of the dagger-category of Hilbert spaces, with linear maps between them:

• Chris Heunen, Andre Kornell, Axioms for the category of Hilbert spaces (arXiv:2109.07418)

category: category