Metric independent σ models are constructed. These are field theories which generalise the membrane idea to situations where the target space has fewer dimensions than the base manifold. Instead of reparametrisation invariance of the independent variables, one has invariance of solutions of the field equations under arbitrary functional redefinitions of the field quantities. Among the many interesting properties of these new models is the existence of a hierarchical structure which is illustrated by the following result.Given an arbitrary Lagrangian, dependent only upon first derivatives of the field, and homogeneous of weight one, an iterative procedure for calculating a sequence of equations of motion is discovered, which ends with a universal, possibly integrable equation, which is independent of the starting Lagrangian. A generalisation to more than one field is given. † Also Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland.‡ On leave of absence from I.T.E.P. 117259, Moscow.

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We give precise meaning to piecewise constant potentials in non-commutative quantum mechanics. In particular we discuss the infinite and finite non-commutative spherical well in two dimensions. Using this, bound-states and scattering can be discussed unambiguously. Here we focus on the infinite well and solve for the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. We find that time reversal symmetry is broken by the non-commutativity. We show that in the commutative and thermodynamic limits the eigenstates and eigenfunctions of the commutative spherical well are recovered and time reversal symmetry is restored.

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The general construction of self-adjoint configuration space representations of the Heisenberg algebra over an arbitrary manifold is considered. All such inequivalent representations are parametrised in terms of the topology classes of flat U(1) bundles over the configuration space manifold. In the case of Riemannian manifolds, these representations are also manifestly diffeomorphic covariant. The general discussion, illustrated by some simple examples in non relativistic quantum mechanics, is of particular relevance to systems whose configuration space is parametrised by curvilinear coordinates or is not simply connected, which thus include for instance the modular spaces of theories of non abelian gauge fields and gravity.