MLL-Kolloquium: Prof. Wolfgang P. Schleich (Institut f. Quantenphysik und Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), Univ. Ulm): The Riemann Zeta Function and Quantum Mechanics

Thursday 29 Jun 2017, 16:00 → 17:00 Europe/Berlin

Lecture Hall (ground floor west) (LMU Building, Am Coulombwall 1, Garching)

The Riemann zeta function plays a crucial role in number theory as well as physics. Indeed, the distribution of primes is intimately connected to the non-trivial zeros of this function. We briefly summarize the essential properties of the Riemann zeta function and then present a quantum mechanical system which when measured appropriately yields zeta. We emphasize that for the representation in terms of a Dirichlet series interference suffices to obtain zeta. However, in order to create zeta along the critical line where the non-trivial zeros are located, we need two entangled quantum systems. In this way entanglement may be considered the quantum analogue of the analytical continuation of complex analysis. We also analyze the Newton flows of zeta as well as of the closely related function xi. Both provide additional insight into the Riemann hypothesis.

Abstract kolloquium-29-06-17.pdf