The notion of a vector space is obtained by axiomatization of the properties of the threedimensional space of Euclidean geometry, or of configuration spaces of classical mechanics. A vector (or linear) space V is a set {x, y,...} equipped with the operations of summation,[x, y] x+ y V, and multiplication by a complex or real number ,[, x] x V, such that (i) The summation is commutative, x+ y= y+ x, and associative,(x+ y)+ z= x+(y+ z). There exist a zero element 0 V, and an inverse element x V, to any x V so that x+ 0= x and x+( x)= 0 holds for all x V.(ii) (x)=() x and 1x= x.(iii) The summation and multiplication are distributive, (x+ y)= x+ y and (+ ) x= x+ x.

We consider a charged spinless quantum particle confined to a graph consisting of a loop to which a halfline lead is attached; this system is placed into a homogeneous magnetic field perpendicular to the loop plane. We derive the reflection amplitude and show that there is an infinite ladder of resonances; analyzing the resonance pole trajectories, we show that half of them turn into true embedded eigenvalues provided the flux through the loop is an integer or half-integer multiple of the flux unit hc/e. We also describe a general method to solve the scattering problem on graphs of which the present model is a simple particular case. Finally, we discuss ways in which a state localized initially at the loop decays.

The Feynman maps introduced first by Truman are examined. The domain considered here consists of the Fresnel-integrable functions in the sense of Albeverio and Hoegh-Krohn; extensions to wider classes of functions will be studied in the following paper. The original definition of the F-maps is slightly modified: we start from the underlying measures on the Hilbert space of paths in order to avoid use of improper integrals. Some new properties of the F-maps are derived. In particular, the dominated convergence theorem is shown to be not valid for the F₁-map (or Feynman integral); this fact is of a certain importance for the classical limit of quantum mechanics.

Properties of the subset of polygonal paths in the Hilbert space of paths referring to a<i>d</i>-dimensional quantum-mechanical system are examined. The results are used to discuss various types of polygonal-path approximations appearing in the functional-integration theory. The uniform approximation is applied to extend the definition of the Feynman maps from our previous paper and to prove consistency of this extension. Relations of the extended<i>F</i> _<i>i</i> map to the Wiener integral are given.

We study a charged two-dimensional particle confined to a straight parabolic-potential channel and exposed to a homogeneous magnetic field under the influence of a potential perturbation W. If W is bounded and periodic along the channel, a perturbative argument yields the absolute continuity of the bottom of the spectrum. We show that it can have any finite number of open gaps provided that the confining potential is sufficiently strong. However, if W depends on the periodic variable only, we prove by the Thomas argument that the whole spectrum is absolutely continuous, irrespective of the size of the perturbation. On the other hand, if W is small and satisfies a weak localization condition in the the longitudinal direction, we prove by the Mourre method that a part of the absolutely continuous spectrum persists.