The Weyl-Wigner map yields the entire structure of Moyal quantum mechanics directly from the standard operator formulation. The covariant generalization of Moyal theory, also known as Vey quantum mechanics, was presented in the literature many years ago. However, a derivation of the formalism directly from standard operator quantum mechanics, clarifying the relation between the two formulations is still missing. In this paper we present a covariant generalization of the Weyl order prescription and of the Weyl-Wigner map and use them to derive Vey quantum mechanics directly from the standard operator formulation. The procedure displays some interesting features: it yields all the key ingredients and provides a more straightforward interpretation of the Vey theory including a direct implementation of unitary operator transformations as phase space coordinate transformations in the Vey idiom. These features are illustrated through a simple example.
An extension of the Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formulation of quantum mechanics suitable for a Dirac quantized constrained system is proposed. In this formulation, quantum observables are described by equivalent classes of Weyl symbols. The Weyl product of these equivalent classes is defined. The new Moyal bracket is shown to be compatible with the Dirac bracket for constrained systems.
The general Weyl -- Wigner formalism in finite dimensional phase spaces is investigated. Then this formalism is specified to the case of symmetric ordering of operators in an odd -- dimensional Hilbert space. A respective Wigner function on the discrete phase space is found and the limit, when the dimension of Hilbert space tends to infinity, is considered. It is shown that this limit gives the number -- phase Wigner function in quantum optics. Analogous results for the `almost' symmetric ordering in an even -- dimensional Hilbert space are obtained. Relations between the discrete Wigner funct…
The Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formalism for quantum particle with discrete internal degrees of freedom is developed. A one to one correspondence between operators in the Hilbert space $L^{2}(\mathbb{R}^{3})\otimes{\mathcal{H}}^{(s+1)}$ and functions on the phase space $\mathbb{R}^{3}\times\mathbb{R}^{3}\times \{0,...,s\} \times\{0,...,s\}$ is found. The expressions for the Stratonovich-Weyl quantizer, star product and Wigner functions of such systems for arbitrary values of spin are obtained in detail. As examples the Landau levels and the corresponding Wigner functions for a spin $\frac{1}{2}$ nonrel…
Classical model of light in helicity formalism is presented. Then quantum point of view at photons -- construction and interpretation of photon wave function is proposed. Quantum mechanics of photon is investigated. The Białynicki -- Birula scalar product $\langle {\bf Ψ}_{1}|{\bf Ψ}_{2}\rangle_{BB}$ and the generalized Hermitian conjugation $\widehatγ^{+\hspace{-0.45em}+}$ of linear operator $\widehatγ$ are discussed. Quantum description of light on a phase space is developed. A photon Wigner function is built.
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 Wigner-Weyl isomorphism for quantum mechanics on a compact simple Lie group $G$ is developed in detail. Several New features are shown to arise which have no counterparts in the familiar Cartesian case. Notable among these is the notion of a `semiquantised phase space', a structure on which the Weyl symbols of operators turn out to be naturally defined and, figuratively speaking, located midway between the classical phase space $T^*G$ and the Hilbert space of square integrable functions on $G$. General expressions for the star product for Weyl symbols are presented and explicitly worked ou…
A polarization correlation experiment with two maximally entangled photons created by spontaneous parametric down-conversion is studied in the Weyl-Wigner formalism, that reproduces the quantum predictions. An interpretation is proposed in terms of stochastic processes assuming that the quantum vacuum fields are real. This proves that local realism is compatible with the violation of Bell inequalities, thus rebutting the claim that local realism has been refuted by entangled photon experiments. Entanglement appears as a correlation between fluctuations of a signal field and vacuum fields.
We first introduce the Wigner-Weyl-Moyal formalism for a theory whose phase-space is an arbitrary Lie algebra. We also generalize to quantum Lie algebras and to supersymmetric theories. It turns out that the non-commutativity leads to a deformation of the classical phase-space: instead of being a vector space it becomes a manifold, the topology of which is given by the commutator relations. It is shown in fact that the classical phase-space, for a semi-simple Lie algebra, becomes a homogenous symplectic manifold. The symplectic product is also deformed. We finally make some comments on how to …
A description of scalar charged particles, based on the Feshbach-Villars formalism, is proposed. Particles are described by an object that is a Wigner function in usual coordinates and momenta and a density matrix in the charge variable. It is possible to introduce the usual Wigner function for a large class of dynamical variables. Such an approach explicitly contains a measuring device frame. From our point of view it corresponds to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. It is shown how physical properties of such particles depend on the definition of the coordinate operator. The…
The Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formalism of fermionic classical systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom is considered. This correspondence is studied by computing the relevant Stratonovich-Weyl quantizer. The Moyal $\star$-product, Wigner functions and normal ordering are obtained for generic fermionic systems. Finally, this formalism is used to perform the deformation quantization of the Fermi oscillator and the supersymmetric quantum mechanics.
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 qubit stabilizer states can be represented by non-negative quasi-probability distributions associated with a Wigner-Weyl-Moyal formalism where Clifford gates are positive state-independent maps. This is accomplished by generalizing the Wigner-Weyl-Moyal formalism to three generators instead of two---producing an exterior, or Grassmann, algebra---which results in Clifford group gates for qubits that act as a permutation on the finite Weyl phase space points naturally associated with stabilizer states. As a result, a non-negative probability distribution can be associated with each …
A generalized Weyl quantization formalism for a particle on the circle investigated in \cite{1} is developed. A Wigner function for the state $\hat{\varrho}$ and the kernel $\mathcal{K}$ for a particle on the circle is defined and its properties are analyzed. Then it is shown how this Wigner function can be easily modified to give the number-phase Wigner function in quantum optics. Some examples of such number-phase Wigner function are considered.
The Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formalism is developed for spin by means of a correspondence between spherical harmonics and spherical harmonic tensor operators. The analogue of the Moyal expansion is developed for the Weyl symbol of the product of two operators in terms of the symbols for the individual operators, and it is shown that in the classical limit, the Weyl symbol for a commutator equals $i$ times the Poisson bracket of the corresponding Weyl symbols. It is also found that, to the same order, there is no correction in the symbol for the anticommutator.
The Weyl quantization of classical observables on the torus (as phase space) without regularity assumptions is explicitly computed. The equivalence class of symbols yielding the same Weyl operator is characterized. The Heisenberg equation for the dynamics of general quantum observables is written through the Moyal brackets on the torus and the support of the Wigner transform is characterized. Finally, a dequantization procedure is introduced that applies, for instance, to the Pauli matrices. As a result we obtain the corresponding classical symbols.
A fluid analog of the information flux in the phase-space associated to purity and von Neumann entropy are identified in the Weyl-Wigner formalism of quantum mechanics. Once constrained by symmetry and positiveness, the encountered continuity equations provide novel quantifiers for non-classicality (non-Liouvillian fluidity) given in terms of quantum decoherence, purity and von Neumann entropy fluxes. Through definitions in the Weyl-Wigner formalism, one can identify the quantum fluctuations that distort the classical-quantum coincidence regime, and the corresponding quantum information profil…
Here, we clarify the physical aspects between the discrete Weyl-Wigner (W-W) formalism, well developed in condensed matter physics, and the so-called 'precise Weyl-Wigner calculus for lattice models' recently appearing in the literature. We point out that the use of compact continuous momentum space for a discrete lattice model is unphysically founded. It has an incommensurate phase space, highly unphysical, lacks the finite fields aspects, as exemplified by the Born-von Karman boundary condition of compactified Bravais lattice of solid-state physics, and leads to several ambiguities. This new…
We study the Weyl-Wigner transform in the case of discrete variables defined in a Hilbert space of finite prime-number dimensionality $N$. We define a family of Weyl-Wigner transforms as function of a phase parameter. We show that it is only for a specific value of the parameter that all the properties we have examined have a parallel with the case of continuous variables defined in an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. A geometrical interpretation is briefly discussed.
Classical and quantum mechanics across representations: an operational reading of the Wigner Weyl correspondence
University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics（维也纳大学物理学院）；Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology（维也纳量子科学与技术中心）；Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), Austrian Academy of Sciences（奥地利科学院量子光学与量子信息研究所）；Constructor University（Constructor大学）；University of Geneva, Group of Applied Physics（日内瓦大学应用物理组）
The Weyl-Wigner representations for canonical thermal equilibrium quantum states are obtained for the whole class of quadratic Hamiltonians through a Wick rotation of the Weyl-Wigner symbols of Heisenberg and metaplectic operators. The behavior of classical structures inherently associated to these unitaries is described under the Wick mapping, unveiling that a thermal equilibrium state is fully determined by a complex symplectic matrix, which sets all of its thermodynamical properties. The four categories of Hamiltonian dynamics (Parabolic, Elliptic, Hyperbolic, and Loxodromic) are analyzed. …
A comprehensive theory of the Weyl-Wigner formalism for the canonical pair angle-angular momentum is presented, with special emphasis in the implications of rotational periodicity and angular-momentum discreteness.
A general canonical transformation of mechanical operators of position and momentum is considered. It is shown that it automatically generates a parameter s which leads to a generalized (or s-parameterized) Wigner function. This allows one to derive a generalized (s-parameterized) Moyal brackets for any dimensions. In the classical limit the s-parameterized Wigner averages of the momentum and its square yield the respective classical values. Interestingly enough,in the latter case the classical Hamilton-Jacobi equation emerges as a consequence of such a transition only if there is a non-zero p…
Based on the technique of integration within an ordered product (IWOP) of operators we introduce the Fresnel operator for converting Caldirola-Kanai Hamiltonian into time-independent harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian. The Fresnel operator with the parameters A,B,C,D corresponds to classical optical Fresnel transformation, these parameters are the solution to a set of partial differential equations set up in the above mentioned converting process. In this way the exact wavefunction solution of the Schrödinger equation governed by the Caldirola-Kanai Hamiltonian is obtained, which represents a squ…
Using operators' Weyl ordering expansion formula (Hong-yi Fan,\emph{\}J. Phys. A 25 (1992) 3443) we find new two-fold integration transformation about the Wigner operator $Δ(q',p')$ ($q$-number transform) in phase space quantum mechanics, \[ \iint_{-\infty}^\infty dp' dq'/πΔ(q',p') e^{-2i(p-p') (q-q')} =δ(p-P) δ(q-Q), \] and its inverse \[\iint_{-\infty}^\infty dq dp δ(p-P) δ(q-Q) e^{2i(p-p') (q-q')}=Δ(q',p'), \] where $Q,$ $P$ are the coordinate and momentum operators, respectively. We apply it to studying mutual converting formulas among $Q-P$ ordering, $P-Q$ ordering and Weyl ordering of op…
We present a family of methods, which can describe behaviour of quantum ensembles and demonstrate the creation of nontrivial (meta) stable states (patterns), localized, chaotic, entangled or decoherent from basic localized modes in collective models arising from the quantum hierarchy of Wigner-von Neumann-Moyal equations.
A finite Hilbert space can be associated to a periodic phase space, that is, a torus. A finite subgroup of operators corresponding to reflections and translations on the torus form respectively the basis for the discrete Weyl representation, including the Wigner function, and for its Fourier conjugate, the chord representation. They are invariant under Clifford transformations and obey analogous product rules to the continuous representations, so allowing for the calculation of expectations and correlations for observables. We here import new identities from the continuum for products of pure …
We derive a quantum kinetic model describing the dynamics of graphene electrons in phase space based on the Wigner--Weyl formalism. To take into account the quantum nature of the carriers, we make use of the quantum Liouville equation for the density matrix. By relating the density matrix elements with the Wigner function, the equation of motion for the latter is established, with the Coulomb interaction being introduced self-consistently (i.e., in the Hartree approximation). The long-wavelength limit for the plasmon dispersion relation is obtained, for both ungated and gated situations. As an…
As a natural extension of Fan's paper (arXiv: 0903.1769vl [quant-ph]) by employing the formula of operators' Weyl ordering expansion and the bipartite entangled state representation we find new two-fold complex integration transformation about the Wigner operator (in its entangled form) in phase space quantum mechanics and its inverse transformation. In this way, some operator ordering problems can be solved and the contents of phase space quantum mechanics can be enriched.
A relativistic phase-space representation for a class of observables with matrix-valued Weyl symbols proportional to the identity matrix (charge-invariant observables)is proposed. We take into account the nontrivial charge structure of the position and momentum operators. The evolution equation coincides with its analog in relativistic quantum mechanics with nonlocal Hamiltonian under conditions where particle-pair creation does not take place (free particle and constant magnetic field). The differences in the equations are connected with peculiarities of the constraints on the initial conditi…
By introducing the s-parameterized generalized Wigner operator into phase-space quantum mechanics we invent the technique of integration within s-ordered product of operators (which considers normal ordered, antinormally ordered and Weyl ordered product of operators as its special cases). The s-ordered operator expansion formula of density operators is derived, and the s-parameterized quantization scheme is thus completely established.
By introducing a new entangled state representation, we show that the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode is just the wave function of the common eigenvector of the orbital angular momentum and the total photon number operators of 2-d oscillator, which can be generated by 50:50 beam splitter with the phase difference phi=Pi/2ϕ between the reflected and transmitted fields. Based on this and using the Weyl ordering invariance under similar transforms, the Wigner representation of LG is directly obtained, which can be considered as the generalized Wigner transform of Hermite Gaussian modes.
The relativistic phase-space representation by means of the usual position and momentum operators for a class of observables with Weyl symbols independent of charge variable (i.e. with any combination of position and momentum) is proposed. The dynamical equation coincides with its analogue in the non-local theory (generalization of the Newton-Wigner position operator approach) under conditions when particles creation is impossible. Differences reveal themselves in specific constraints on possible initial conditions.
A mapping between operators on the Hilbert space of $N$-dimensional quantum system and the Wigner quasiprobability distributions defined on the symplectic flag manifold is discussed. The Wigner quasiprobability distribution is constructed as a dual pairing between the density matrix and the Stratonovich-Weyl kernel. It is shown that the moduli space of the Stratonovich-Weyl kernel is given by an intersection of the coadjoint orbit space of the $SU(N)$ group and a unit $(N-2)$-dimensional sphere. The general consideration is exemplified by a detailed description of the moduli space of 2, 3 and …
The family of unitary non-equivalent Weyl-Stratonovich kernels determining the Wigner probability distribution function of an arbitrary N-level quantum system is constructed.
Using the Wigner-Weyl mapping of quantum mechanics to phase space we consider exactly the quantum mechanics of an harmonic oscillator driven by an external white noise force or whose frequency is time dependent, either adiabatically or parametrically. We find several transition probabilities exactly. We also consider the (quantum mechanical) randomizing effects of the external white noise force on the Weyl quantized phase angle and upon other Weyl quantized quantities.
We show that the cross Wigner function can be written in the form $W(ψ, ϕ)= \hat S (ψ\otimes \overline{\hatϕ})$ where ${\hatϕ}$ is the Fourier transform of $ϕ$ and $\hat S$ is a metaplectic operator that projects onto a linear symplectomorphism $S$ consisting of a rotation along an ellipse in phase space (or in the time-frequency space). This formulation can be extended to generic Weyl symbols and yields an interesting fractional generalization of the Weyl-Wigner formalism. It also provides a suitable approach to study the Bopp phase space representation of quantum mechanics, familiar from def…
The Wigner function of a finite-dimensional system can be constructed via dual pairing of a density matrix with the Stratonovich-Weyl kernel. Following Kenfack and $\dot{\text{Z}}$yczkowski, we consider the indicator of nonclassicality of a finite-dimensional quantum system which depends on the volume of the negative part of the Wigner function. This indicator is defined over the unitary non-equivalent classes of quantum states, i.e. represents an invariant, but since for a given quantum system there is no unique Wigner function it turns to be sensitive to the choice of representations for the…
The Weyl-Wigner formulation of quantum confined systems poses several interesting problems. The energy stargenvalue equation, as well as the dynamical equation does not display the expected solutions. In this paper we review some previous results in the subject and add some new contributions. We reformulate the confined energy eigenvalue equation by adding to the Hamiltonian a new (distributional) boundary potential. The new Hamiltonian is proved to be globally defined and self-adjoint. Moreover, it yields the correct Weyl-Wigner formulation of the confined system.
In deformation quantization (a.k.a. the Wigner-Weyl-Moyal formulation of quantum mechanics), we consider a single quantum particle moving freely in one dimension, except for the presence of one infinite potential wall. Dias and Prata pointed out that, surprisingly, its stationary-state Wigner function does not obey the naive equation of motion, i.e. the naive stargenvalue (*-genvalue) equation. We review our recent work on this problem, that treats the infinite wall as the limit of a Liouville potential. Also included are some new results: (i) we show explicitly that the Wigner-Weyl transform …
We construct a representation of the coherent state path integral using the Weyl symbol of the Hamiltonian operator. This representation is very different from the usual path integral forms suggested by Klauder and Skagerstan in \cite{Klau85}, which involve the normal or the antinormal ordering of the Hamiltonian. These different representations, although equivalent quantum mechanically, lead to different semiclassical limits. We show that the semiclassical limit of the coherent state propagator in Weyl representation is involves classical trajectories that are independent on the coherent stat…
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 comp…
The Lindblad equation governs general markovian evolution of the density operator in an open quantum system. An expression for the rate of change of the Wigner function as a sum of integrals is one of the forms of the Weyl representation for this equation. The semiclassical description of the Wigner function in terms of chords, each with its classically defined amplitude and phase, is thus inserted in the integrals, which leads to an explicit differential equation for the Wigner function. All the Lindblad operators are assumed to be represented by smooth phase space functions corresponding to …
The classical limit of the Wigner-Weyl representation is used to approximate products of bound-continuum matrix elements that are fundamental to many coherent control computations. The range of utility of the method is quantified through an examination of model problems, single-channel Na_2 dissociation and multi-arrangement channel photodissociation of CH_2IBr. Very good agreement with the exact quantum results is found for a wide range of system parameters.
Time-symmetric quantum mechanics can be described in the usual Weyl--Wigner--Moyal formalism (WWM) by using the properties of the Wigner distribution, and its generalization, the cross-Wigner distribution. The use of the latter makes clear a strongly oscillating interference between the pre- and post-selected states. This approach allows us to give explicit formulas for the state reconstruction problem, thus generalizing known results to the case of arbitrary observables. In a forthcoming paper we will extend these results to other quantization schemes.
We derive a semi-classical nonequilibrium work identity by applying the Wigner-Weyl quantization scheme to the Jarzynski identity for a classical Hamiltonian. This allows us, to the leading order in $\hbar$, to overcome the problem of defining the concept of work in quantum mechanics. We propose a geometric interpretation of this semi-classical relation in terms of trajectories in a complex phase space and illustrate it with the exactly solvable case of the quantum harmonic oscillator.
To avoid the computational burden of many-body quantum simulation, the interaction of an electron with a photon (phonon) is typically accounted for by disregarding the explicit simulation of the photon (phonon) degree of freedom and just modelling its effect on the electron dynamics. For quantum models developed from the (reduced) density matrix or its Wigner-Weyl transformation, the modelling of collisions may violate complete positivity (precluding the typical probabilistic interpretation). In this paper, we show that such quantum transport models can also strongly violate the energy conserv…
Phase space reflection operators lie at the core of the Wigner-Weyl representation of density operators and observables. The role of the corresponding classical reflections is known in the construction of semiclassical approximations to Wigner functions of pure eigenstates and their coarsegrained microcanonical superpositions, which are not restricted to classically integrable systems. In their active role as unitary operators, they generate transitions between pairs of eigenstates specified by transition Wigner functions (or cross-Wigner functions): The square modulus of the transition Wigner…
Operators in quantum mechanics - either observables, density or evolution operators, unitary or not - can be represented by c-numbers in operator bases. The position and momentum bases are in one to one correspondence with lagrangian planes in double phase space, but this is also true for the well known Wigner-Weyl correspondence based on translation and reflection operators. These phase space methods are here extended to the representation of superoperators. We show that the Choi-Jamiolkowsky isomorphism between the dynamical matrix and the linear action of the superoperator constitutes a "do…
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.
The formulation of the no-cloning theorem in the framework of phase-space noncommutative (NC) quantum mechanics (QM) is examined, and its implications for the computation of quantum cloning probabilities and teleportation fidelity are investigated through the Weyl-Wigner formulation of QM. The principles of QM re-edited in terms of a deformed Heisenberg-Weyl algebra are shown to provide a covariant formulation for the quantum fidelity, through which the results from the no-cloning theorem for the ordinary QM can be reproduced. Besides exhibiting an explicit correspondence between standard and …
A comprehensive theory of the Weyl-Wigner formalism for the canonical pair angle-angular momentum is presented. Special attention is paid to the problems linked to rotational periodicity and angular-momentum discreteness.
For an ergodic system, the time average of a classical observable coincides with that obtained via the Liouville probability density, a delta-function on the energy shell. Reinterpreting this distribution as a Wigner function, that is, the Weyl representation of a density operator, the quantum ergodic conjecture identifies this classical construction as an approximate representation of the quantum eigenstate of the same energy. It is found that this reasonable hypothesis, as far as expectations for observables are concerned, does not satisfy the requirement of positivity, so that the delta-fun…
