We investigate the relationship between two properties of quantum transformations often studied in popular subtheories of quantum theory: covariance of the Wigner representation of the theory and the existence of a transformation noncontextual ontological model of the theory. We consider subtheories of quantum theory specified by a set of states, measurements and transformations, defined specifying a group of unitaries, that map between states (and measurements) within the subtheory. We show that if there exists a Wigner representation of the subtheory which is covariant under the group of unitaries defining the set of transformations then the subtheory admits of a transformation noncontextual ontological model. We provide some concrete arguments to conjecture that the converse statement also holds provided that the underlying ontological model is the one given by the Wigner representation. In addition, we investigate the relationships of covariance and transformation noncontextuality with the existence of a quasiprobability distribution for the theory that represents the transformations as positivity preserving maps. We conclude that covariance implies transformation noncontextuality, which implies positivity preservation.
The metaplectic covariance for all forms of the Weyl-Wigner-Groenewold-Moyal quantization is established with different realizations of the inhomogeneous symplectic algebra. Beyond that, in its most general form $W_{\infty}$ -covariance of this quantization scheme is investigated, and explicit expressions for the quantum-deformed Hamiltonian vector fields are presented. In a general basis the structure constants of the $W_{\infty}$-algebra are obtained and its subalgebras are analyzed.
The differential structure of operator bases used in various forms of the Weyl-Wigner-Groenewold-Moyal (WWGM) quantization is analyzed and a derivative-based approach, alternative to the conventional integral-based one is developed. Thus the fundamental quantum relations follow in a simpler and unified manner. An explicit formula for the ordered products of the Heisenberg-Weyl algebra is obtained. The W(infty) -covariance of the WWGM-quantization in its most general form is established. It is shown that the group action of W(infty) that is realized in the classical phase space induces on bases…
We show that the linear symplectic and anti-symplectic transformations form the maximal covariance group for both the Wigner transform and Weyl operators. The proof is based on a new result from symplectic geometry which characterizes symplectic and anti-symplectic matrices, and which allows us, in addition, to refine a classical result on the preservation of symplectic capacities of ellipsoids.
We propose a Wigner quasiprobability distribution function for Hamiltonian systems in spaces of constant curvature --in this paper on hyperboloids--, which returns the correct marginals and has the covariance of the Shapiro functions under SO(D,1) transformations. To the free systems obeying the Laplace-Beltrami equation on the hyperboloid, we add a conic-oscillator potential in the hyperbolic coordinate. As an example, we analyze the 1-dimensional case on a hyperbola branch, where this conic-oscillator is the Poschl-Teller potential. We present the analytical solutions and plot the computed r…
Mutually unbiased bases and discrete Wigner functions are closely, but not uniquely related. Such a connection becomes more interesting when the Hilbert space has a dimension that is a power of a prime $N=d^n$, which describes a composite system of $n$ qudits. Hence, entanglement naturally enters the picture. Although our results are general, we concentrate on the simplest nontrivial example of dimension $N=8=2^3$. It is shown that the number of fundamentally different Wigner functions is severely limited if one simultaneously imposes translational covariance and that the generating operators …
According to Hudson's theorem, any pure quantum state with a positive Wigner function is necessarily a Gaussian state. Here, we make a step towards the extension of this theorem to mixed quantum states by finding upper and lower bounds on the degree of non-Gaussianity of states with positive Wigner functions. The bounds are expressed in the form of parametric functions relating the degree of non-Gaussianity of a state, its purity, and the purity of the Gaussian state characterized by the same covariance matrix. Although our bounds are not tight, they permit us to visualize the set of states wi…
We study a quantum system of coupled oscillators subject to a periodic excitation of its parameters. Using Floquet-Lyapunov theory we derive the linear integrals of motion of the system and relate their covariance matrix to that for the canonical observables. The operator integrals allows us to construct the intelligent (minimum uncertainty) states of the system and the corresponding photon-added states. We found explicit expressions for the wavefunction, Wigner function and covariance matrix of these states.
Quantum correlations of observables for two particle states have demonstrated the nonlocal character of the quantum mechanics. However nonlocality can be exhibited even for noncommuting observables of a single particle system. In this paper we show nonlocality of position-momentum correlations of a single particle in the double-slit experiment modeled by an initially correlated Gaussian wavepacket. The positivity or negativity of the Wigner function for the state of the particle at the detection screen is related with the $σ_{xp}$ covariances. A Bell's inequality is constructed from the Wigner…
We give a complete characterization of the (non)classicality of all stabilizer subtheories. First, we prove that there is a unique nonnegative and diagram-preserving quasiprobability representation of the stabilizer subtheory in all odd dimensions, namely Gross's discrete Wigner function. This representation is equivalent to Spekkens' epistemically restricted toy theory, which is consequently singled out as the unique noncontextual ontological model for the stabilizer subtheory. Strikingly, the principle of noncontextuality is powerful enough (at least in this setting) to single out one partic…
We prove that Wigner functions contain a symplectic connection. The latter covariantises the symplectic exterior derivative on phase space. We analyse the role played by this connection and introduce the notion of local symplectic covariance of quantum-mechanical states. This latter symmetry is at work in the Schroedinger equation on phase space.
A great number of problems of relativistic position in quantum mechanics are due to the use of coordinates which are not inherent objects of spacetime, cause unnecessary complications and can lead to misconceptions. We apply a coordinate-free approach to rule out such problems. Thus it will be clear, for example, that the Lorentz covariance of position, required usually on the analogy of Lorentz covariance of spacetime coordinates, is not well posed and we show that in a right setting the Newton--Wigner position is Poincaré covariant, in contradiction with the usual assertions.
The Wigner function provides a useful quasiprobability representation of quantum mechanics, with applications in various branches of physics. Many nice properties of the Wigner function are intimately connected with the high symmetry of the underlying operator basis composed of phase point operators: any pair of phase point operators can be transformed to any other pair by a unitary symmetry transformation. We prove that, in the discrete scenario, this permutation symmetry is equivalent to the symmetry group being a unitary 2-design. Such a highly symmetric representation can only appear in od…
We propose a refinement of the Robertson-Schrodinger uncertainty principle (RSUP) using Wigner distributions. This new principle is stronger than the RSUP. In particular, and unlike the RSUP, which can be saturated by many phase space functions, the refined RSUP can be saturated by pure Gaussian Wigner functions only. Moreover, the new principle is technically as simple as the standard RSUP. In addition, it makes a direct connection with modern harmonic analysis, since it involves the Wigner transform and its symplectic Fourier transform, which is the radar ambiguity function. As a by-product …
Ergotropic and passive contributions on the phase-space information geometry of Gaussian states
São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo（圣卡洛斯物理研究所，圣保罗大学）；Department of Physics, PUC-Rio（里约天主教大学物理系）；Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica - Emilio Segrè（巴勒莫大学，埃米利奥·塞格雷物理与化学系）
The time evolution of the Wigner function for Gaussian states generated by Lindblad quantum dynamics is investigated in the semiclassical limit. A new type of phase-space dynamics is obtained for the centre of a Gaussian Wigner function, where the Lindblad terms generally introduce a non-Hamiltonian flow. In addition to this, the Gaussian approximation yields dynamical equations for the covariances. The approximation becomes exact for linear Lindblad operators and a quadratic Hamiltonian. By viewing the Wigner function as a wave function on a coordinate space of doubled dimension, and the phas…
Gaussian states -- or, more generally, Gaussian operators -- play an important role in Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Science, both in discussions about conceptual issues and in practical applications. We describe, in a tutorial manner, a systematic operator method for first characterizing such states and then investigating their properties. The central numerical quantities are the covariance matrix that specifies the characteristic function of the state, and the closely related matrices associated with Wigner's and Glauber's phase space functions. For pedagogical reasons, we restrict …
We show that there are significant conceptual differences between QM and QFT which make it difficult to view the latter as just a relativistic extension of the principles of QM. At the root of this is a fundamental distinction between Born-localization in QM (which in the relativistic context changes its name to Newton-Wigner localization) and modular localization which is the localization underlying QFT, after one liberates it from its standard presentation in terms of field coordinates. The first comes with a probability notion and projection operators, whereas the latter describes causal pr…
While internal space-time symmetries of relativistic particles are dictated by the little groups of the Poincaré group, it is possible to construct representations of the little group for massive particles starting from harmonic oscillator wave functions for the quark model. The resulting oscillator wave functions are covariant and can be Lorentz-boosted. It is thus possible to obtain the parton model by boosting the quark model. A review of Wigner's theory of the little groups is given. It is shown that the covariant oscillator wave functions become squeezed as as the system becomes boosted. …
