Schrödinger Equations for Delta Potential Barrier in Quantum Phase Space

The irreversible process of ‘wave packet collapse’ in quantum measurement contradicts the reversible characteristics of the Schrödinger equation and the entire quantum mechanics. This contradiction is actually the origin of measurement problems in quantum mechanics. How to resolve this contradiction is related to the understanding of some philosophical concepts. The Copenhagen School embraces the reversible/irreversible contradictions in quantum measurement through the principle of complementarity. Both von Neumann's measurement hypothesis and Everett's many world explanation adhere to the ‘universal position of the Schrödinger equation’, but due to their detachment from the thermodynamic mechanism analysis of quantum measurement processes, they fall into the dilemma of subjectivism or possible state materialization in ontology. Decoherence theory is a natural extension of dissipative structure theory in quantum mechanics, which helps to solve quantum measurement problems by combining the study of classical conversion mechanisms between reversibility and irreversibility in statistical mechanics. Due to the common statistical roots of the time arrow problem in classical mechanics and quantum mechanics, decoherence theory cannot be seen as a measurement theory that fully implements the ‘universal Schrödinger position’. Many contradictions in quantum mechanics may need to be cleverly resolved through various contradictions in classical physics.

An external magnetic field in configuration space coupled to quantum dynamics induces noncommutativity in its velocity momentum space. By phase space duality, an external vector potential in the conjugate momentum sector of the system induces noncommutativity in its configuration space. Such a rationale for noncommutativity is explored herein for an arbitrary configuration space of Euclidean geometry. Ordinary quantum mechanics with a commutative configuration space is revisited first. Through the introduction of an arbitrary positive definite ∗-product, a one-to-one correspondence between the Hilbert space of abstract quantum states and that of the enveloping algebra of the position quantum operators is identified. A parallel discussion is then presented when configuration space is noncommutative, and thoroughly analysed when the conjugate magnetic field is momentum independent and nondegenerate. Once again the space of quantum states may be identified with the enveloping algebra of the noncommutative position quantum operators. Furthermore, when the positive definite ∗-product is adapted to the conjugate magnetic field, the coordinate operators span a Fock algebra of which the coherent states are the analogues of the structureless points in a commutative configuration space. These results generalise and justify a posteriori within ordinary canonical quantisation the heuristic approach to quantum mechanics in the noncommutative Euclidean plane as constructed and developed by F. G. Scholtz and his collaborators.

We derive a system of TBA equations governing the exact WKB periods in one-dimensional Quantum Mechanics with arbitrary polynomial potentials. These equations provide a generalization of the ODE/IM correspondence, and they can be regarded as the solution of a Riemann-Hilbert problem in resurgent Quantum Mechanics formulated by Voros. Our derivation builds upon the solution of similar Riemann-Hilbert problems in the study of BPS spectra in mathcal{N} = 2 gauge theories and of minimal surfaces in AdS. We also show that our TBA equations, combined with exact quantization conditions, provide a powerful method to solve spectral problems in Quantum Mechanics. We illustrate our general analysis with a detailed study of PT-symmetric cubic oscillators and quartic oscillators.

The model of weak measurements is applied to various problems, related to the\ntime problem in quantum mechanics. The review and generalization of the\ntheoretical analysis of the time problem in quantum mechanics based on the\nconcept of weak measurements are presented. A question of the time interval the\nsystem spends in the specified state, when the final state of the system is\ngiven, is raised. Using the concept of weak measurements the expression for\nsuch time is obtained. The results are applied to the tunneling problem. A\nprocedure for the calculation of the asymptotic tunneling and reflection times\nis proposed. Examples for delta-form and rectangular barrier illustrate the\nobtained results. Using the concept of weak measurements the arrival time\nprobability distribution is defined by analogy with the classical mechanics.\nThe proposed procedure is suitable to the free particles and to particles\nsubjected to an external potential, as well. It is shown that such an approach\nimposes an inherent limitation to the accuracy of the arrival time definition.\n

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle says that it is impossible to determine simultaneously the position and momentum of a quantum-mechanical particle. This can be rephrased as follows: the smallest subsets of classical phase space in which the presence of a quantum-mechanical particle can be detected are its Lagrangian submanifolds. For this reason it makes sense to regard the Lagrangian submanifolds of phase space as being its true "points"; see Weinstein [17]. Now let G be a compact Lie group and G x X ~ X a Hamiltonian action of G on X (see w for definitions). It is well-known that the fixed points of this action form a symplectic submanifold of X. (See for instance Guillemin and Sternberg [5].) However, what can one say about the fixed "points" of G? We will show that they are also the "points'" of a symplectic manifold, Xc. This manifold is the Marsden-Weinstein reduction of X with respect to the zero orbit in g*, and will be described in Sect. 2. (It was introduced in a completely different context fl'om ours by Marsden and Weinstein [12].) Problems in classical mechanics can often be reduced to the study of Hamiltonian systems on symplectic manifolds and problems in quantum mechanics to the study of linear operators on Hilbert space. This fact has inspired a number of efforts to "quantize" symplectic geometry by devising schemes for associating Hilbert space to symplectic manifolds. The "no-go" theorems of Groenwald and Van Hove impose some embarrassing limitations on all such schemes; however, it seems to be a useful idea heuristically to think of every symplectic manifold, X~a~ic, 1, as being symbiotically associated with a Hilbert space, Xq,a, t ..... in such a way that the classical observables on the first space correspond to quantum observables on the second space. The heuristics further suggests that if G is a group of symmetries of X~la~,i~, j, it should also be a group of symmetries of Xq,a,,tum. In this heuristic spirit, we will state the main conjecture of this paper:

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.

Positivity preserving schemes for the fractional Klein-Kramers equation with boundaries

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.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTThe probability equals zero problem in quantum mechanics. Or, how does an electron get from first to second to third without touching second?Frank O. Ellison and C. A. Hollingsworth Cite this: J. Chem. Educ. 1976, 53, 12, 767Publication Date (Print):December 1, 1976Publication History Received3 August 2009Published online1 December 1976Published inissue 1 December 1976https://doi.org/10.1021/ed053p767RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views154Altmetric-Citations5LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (3 MB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

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 examine here, by using a simple example, two implementations of the minimum error method (MEM), a least-squares minimization for scattering problems in quantum mechanics, and show that they provide an efficient, numerically stable alternative to Kohn variational principle. MEM defines an error-functional consisting of the sum of the values of (HPsi - EPsi)2 at a set of grid points. The wave function Psi, is forced to satisfy the scattering boundary conditions and is determined by minimizing the least-squares error. We study two implementations of this idea. In one, we represent the wave function as a linear combination of Chebyshev polynomials and minimize the error by varying the coefficients of the expansion and the R-matrix (present in the asymptotic form of Psi). This leads to a linear equation for the coefficients and the R-matrix, which we solve by matrix inversion. In the other implementation, we use a conjugate-gradient procedure to minimize the error with respect to the values of Psi at the grid points and the R-matrix. The use of the Chebyshev polynomials allows an efficient and accurate calculation of the derivative of the wave function, by using Fast Chebyshev Transforms. We find that, unlike KVP, MEM is numerically stable when we use the R-matrix asymptotic condition and gives accurate wave functions in the interaction region.

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.

Designed for a two-semester advanced undergraduate or graduate level course, this distinctive and modern textbook provides students with the physical intuition and mathematical skills to tackle even complex problems in quantum mechanics with ease and fluency. Beginning with a detailed introduction to quantum states and Dirac notation, the book then develops the overarching theoretical framework of quantum mechanics, before explaining physical quantum mechanical properties such as angular momentum and spin. Symmetries and groups in quantum mechanics, important components of current research, are covered at length. The second part of the text focuses on applications, and includes a detailed chapter on quantum entanglement, one of the most exciting modern applications of quantum mechanics, and of key importance in quantum information and computation. Numerous exercises are interspersed throughout the text, expanding upon key concepts and further developing students' understanding. A fully worked solutions manual and lecture slides are available for instructors.

Of the many ways of getting at the core of the weirdnesses in quantum mechanics, there’s one which traces back to Schrödinger’s seminal 1935 paper, and has to do with the apparent fuzzy nature of the reality described by the formalism through the wavefunction ψ. This issue, which I will be calling the Determinacy Problem, is distinct from the standard measurement problem of quantum mechanics, despite Schrödinger himself ends up conflating the two. I will argue that the Determinacy Problem is an exquisitely philosophical problem, for as it is standard when facing any phenomenon which appears to have indeterminate or fuzzy characteristics, the solutions available are to either blame the deficiencies of our language, or our lack of knowledge, or to blame the world itself. These three attitudes can already be found in the literature on quantum mechanics, either explicitly or implicitly, and they appear to motivate three very distinct research programs: high-dimensional realism, primitive ontology, and quantum indeterminacy.