Phase space characterization of solitons with the Wigner transform

The Weyl correspondence for obtaining quantum operators from functions of classical coordinates and momenta is known to be incorrect. To calculate quantum-mechanical expectation values as phase-space averages with the Wigner density function, one cannot use classical functions but must use Weyl transforms. These transforms are defined and their properties derived from quantum mechanics. Their properties are expressed in terms of a Hermitian operator Δ(Q, K) whose Weyl transform is a δ function. The Wigner function is the transform of the density operator. Every Weyl transform is exhibited as a difference of two functions which are nonnegative on the phase spece. Weyl transforms do not obey the algebra of classical functions. In the classical limit ℏ → 0, Weyl transforms become classical functions, the Wigner function becomes nonnegative throughout the phase space, and the Hilbert space is spanned by an orthonormal set of vectors which are simultaneous eigenkets of the commuting coordinate and momentum operators.

κ-Poincaré–Hopf algebra and Hopf algebroid structure of phase space from twist

The structure of the global “quantum phase space” is analyzed for the harmonic oscillator perturbed by a monochromatic wave in the limit when the perturbation amplitude is small. Usually, the phenomenon of quantum resonance was studied in nondegenerate [G. M. Zaslavsky, Chaos in Dynamic Systems (Harwood Academic, Chur, 1985)] and degenerate [Demikhovskii, Kamenev, and Luna-Acosta, Phys. Rev. E 52, 3351 (1995)] classically chaotic systems only in the particular regions of the classical phase space, such as the center of the resonance or near the separatrix. The system under consideration is degenerate, and even an infinitely small perturbation generates in the classical phase space an infinite number of the resonant cells which are arranged in the pattern with the axial symmetry of the order 2μ (where μ is the resonance number). We show analytically that the Husimi functions of all Floquet states (the quantum phase space) have the same symmetry as the classical phase space. This correspondence is demonstrated numerically for the Husimi functions of the Floquet states corresponding to the motion near the elliptic stable points (centers of the classical resonance cells). The derived results are valid in the resonance approximation when the perturbation amplitude is small enough, and the stochastic layers in the classical phase space are exponentially thin. The developed approach can be used for studying a global symmetry of more complicated quantum systems with chaotic behavior.

We introduce the number-conserving quantum phase space description as a versatile tool to address fundamental aspects of quantum many-body systems. Using phase space methods we prove two alternative versions of the quantum de Finetti theorem for finite-dimensional bosonic quantum systems, which states that a reduced density matrix of a many-body quantum state can be approximated by a convex combination of product states where the error is proportional to the inverse particle number. This theorem provides a formal justification for the mean-field description of many-body quantum systems, as it shows that quantum correlations can be neglected for the calculation of few-body observables when the particle number is large. Furthermore we discuss methods to derive the exact evolution equations for quantum phase space distribution functions as well as upper and lower bounds for the ground state energy. As an important example, we consider the Bose–Hubbard model and show that the mean-field dynamics is given by a classical phase space flow equivalent to the discrete Gross–Pitaevskii equation.

Since the very early days of quantum theory there have been numerous attempts to interpret quantum mechanics as a statistical theory. This is equivalent to describing quantum states and ensembles together with their dynamics entirely in terms of phase-space distributions. Finite dimensional systems have historically been an issue. In recent works [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 180401 and Phys. Rev. A 96, 022117] we presented a framework for representing any quantum state as a complete continuous Wigner function. Here we extend this work to its partner function -- the Weyl function. In doing so we complete the phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics -- extending work by Wigner, Weyl, Moyal, and others to any quantum system. This work is structured in three parts. Firstly we provide a brief modernized discussion of the general framework of phase-space quantum mechanics. We extend previous work and show how this leads to a framework that can describe any system in phase space -- putting it for the first time on a truly equal footing to Schr\"odinger's and Heisenberg's formulation of quantum mechanics. Importantly, we do this in a way that respects the unifying principles of "parity" and "displacement" in a natural broadening of previously developed phase space concepts and methods. Secondly we consider how this framework is realized for different quantum systems; in particular we consider the proper construction of Weyl functions for some example finite dimensional systems. Finally we relate the Wigner and Weyl distributions to statistical properties of any quantum system or set of systems.

We consider questions related to the following quantization scheme: a classical variable f: Ω → ℝ on a phase space Ω is associated with a unique semispectral measure Ef, such that the kth moment operator of Ef is required to coincide with the operator integral L(fk, E) of fk with respect to a certain fixed phase space semispectral measure E. Mainly, we take the phase space Ω to be a locally compact unimodular group. In the concrete case where Ω = ℝ2 and E is a translation covariant semispectral measure, we determine explicitly the relevant operators L(fk, E) for certain variables f. In addition, we consider the question under what conditions a positive operator measure is projection valued.

It is shown that continuous classical nonlinear canonical (Poisson) maps have a distinguished role in quantum mechanics. They act unitarily on the quantum phase space and generate ℏ-independent quantum nonlinear canonical maps. It is also shown that such maps act in the non-commutative phase space under the classical covariance. A crucial result of the work is that under the action of Poisson maps a local quantum mechanical picture is converted onto a non-local picture which is then represented in a non-local Hilbert space. On the other hand, it is known that a non-local picture is equivalent by the Weyl map to a non-commutative picture which, in the context of this work, corresponds to a phase space formulation of the theory. As a result of this equivalence, a phase space Schrödinger picture can be formulated. In particular, we obtain the ⋆-genvalue equation of Fairlie (1964 Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 60 581) and Curtright, Fairlie and Zachos (1998 Phys. Rev. D 58 025002). In a non-local picture entanglement becomes a crucial concept. The connection between the entanglement and non-locality is explored in the context of Poisson maps and specific examples of the generation of entanglement from a local wavefunction are provided by using the concept of generalized Bell states. The results obtained are also relevant for the non-commutative soliton picture in the non-commutative field theories. We elaborate on this in the context of the scalar non-commutative field theory.

We consider evolution of dynamical systems described by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, using the density operator approach. The latter is formulated both at the level of the Hilbert space and the phase space, and adapted for applications to open quantum systems. We illustrate the formalism using a family of non-Hermitian system, which generators are quadratic with respect to both momentum and position. Despite the initial simplicity of a Hamiltonian, the structure of its solutions and spectral characteristics are nontrivial, and they can drastically change depending on parameters of the model and its symmetry in phase space. We present analytical solutions in L2(ℝ) and in phase space, and an explicit form of the similarity transformation changing these generators into the corresponding normal operators.

In this article, the rotating Kratzer oscillator in quantum phase space is studied. The Langer transformation is used to map the Kratzer oscillator with centrifugal term onto a one‐dimensional Morse oscillator. As a result, the Wigner distribution functions for the Morse oscillator are obtained. The quantum states of the system are visualized in the phase space for a few vibrational and rotational quantum numbers. The results obtained in the phase space correspond to those derived in the standard quantum theory. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010

A fluctuation theorem for the nonequilibrium entropy production in quantum phase space is derived, which enables the consistent thermodynamic description of arbitrary quantum systems, open and closed. The new treatment naturally generalizes classical results to the quantum domain. As an illustration the harmonic oscillator dragged through a thermal bath is solved numerically. Finally, the significance of the new approach is discussed in detail, and the phase space treatment is opposed to the two-time energy measurement approach.

The quantum phase space described by Heisenberg algebra possesses undeformed Hopf algebroid structure. The κ-deformed phase space with noncommutative coordinates is realized in terms of undeformed quantum phase space. There are infinitely many such realizations related by similarity transformations. For a given realization, we construct corresponding coproducts of commutative coordinates and momenta (bialgebroid structure). The κ-deformed phase space has twisted Hopf algebroid structure. General method for the construction of twist operator (satisfying cocycle and normalization condition) corresponding to deformed coalgebra structure is presented. Specially, twist for natural realization (classical basis) of κ-Minkowski space–time is presented. The cocycle condition, κ-Poincaré algebra and R-matrix are discussed. Twist operators in arbitrary realizations are constructed from the twist in the given realization using similarity transformations. Some examples are presented. The important physical applications of twists, realizations, R-matrix and Hopf algebroid structure are discussed.

Using a special phase space representation, we propose a factorization of the Hamiltonian in this representation in spite of its more complex structure. Also, based on the link existing between the intertwining technique and SUSY we find the phase space supercharges and the supersymmetric partner Hamiltonian. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001

On the similarities between the Wigner distribution function in classical and quantum optics

Schrödinger Equations for Delta Potential Barrier in Quantum Phase Space

Using the Wigner function formalism in phase space, we analyze the decay of quantum coherences in phase-sensitive reservoirs. We show that the decay rate of quantum coherences in phase-sensitive reservoirs can be significantly modified compared to the decay rate in ordinary (phase-insensitive) thermal reservoirs. Depending on the phases of the quantum system (field mode) and the squeezed reservoir, the decay rate of the quantum coherence can be either enhanced or significantly suppressed, which is in agreement with the results obtained recently by other methods [T. A. B. Kennedy and D. F. Walls, Phys. Rev. A 37, 152 (1988)]. We show that in an ideally squeezed reservoir with a high degree of squeezing, the decay rate of the quantum coherence (i.e., the decay rate of off-diagonal terms of the density matrix in the coherent-state basis) can be equal to the decay rate of the energy of the system (i.e., the decay rate of diagonal terms of the density matrix). Suppression of the decay rate of the quantum coherence leads to preservation of nonclassical effects such as the oscillations in the photon number distribution. Moreover, we find that some initial superposition states of light exhibiting super-Poissonian photon statistics can be transformed into intermediate sub-Poissonian states under the influence of phase-sensitive reservoirs.