I've been thinking about the algebra of observables in spin systems a lot recently and, with only a relatively standard background in abstract algebra, wonder if some of the objects I've been considering have been considered by mathematicians.
The construction I'm interested in is as follows. Let A be the algebra of observables on a lattice system with Hamiltonian H. The Hamiltonian defines a set of eigenstates; let us take ⟨⋅⟩:A→R to be the linear functional on the algebra furnished by the ground state. This is guaranteed to exist and also has some guaranteed properties: in particular, ⟨HO⟩=⟨H⟩⟨O⟩.
The algebra A has a number of relations between elements given by the multiplication table and in many cases by the Lie bracket between operators. I am wondering about the structure of the image of the algebra under the map ⟨⋅⟩, which I'll call ⟨A⟩. The algebraic relations on A descend to relations on this 'expected value algebra'; if O1O2=O3 in A, then ⟨O1O2⟩=⟨O3⟩ in ⟨A⟩.
If the ground state is translation invariant, then we also have equivalences like ⟨O(n)O)(n+m)⟩=⟨O(0)O(m)⟩, so many elements of A are mapped to the same element of ⟨A⟩.
Finally, we have the relations ⟨HO⟩=⟨H⟩⟨O⟩, which will create even more identifications in the image of A under ⟨⋅⟩.
So the question is, given a characterization of A and of the map ⟨⋅⟩, what is the structure of the expected value algebra ⟨A⟩? In the case that A is the Pauli algebra on N qubits, A has 4^N elements; how many unique elements are in ⟨A⟩? What is a basis for the algebra? Does this type of algebraic structure have a name?
I am imagining that the 'constraints' inherited from the symmetry of the state or the relation ⟨HO⟩=⟨H⟩⟨O⟩ define ideals in A, and I am asking about the quotient of A by these ideals. So perhaps there is an idea of constructing Grobner bases for the ideals that is relevant here?
I am hoping that someone has some ideas about references, definitions, or similar constructions in the mathematical literature that might be useful. This paper (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2310.13111) of Raamsdonk is vaguely related to the question, but not exactly.