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arXiv:0803.0108

Equation of Motion for the Quantum Characteristic Functions

Itay Hen, Amir Kalev

Published Mar 2, 2008• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In this paper, we derive equations of motion for the normal-order, the symmetric-order and the antinormal-order quantum characteristic functions, applicable for general Hamiltonian systems. We do this by utilizing the `characteristic form' of both quantum states and Hamiltonians. The equations of motion we derive here are rather simple in form and in essence, and as such have a number of attractive features. As we shall see, our approach enables the descriptions of quantum and classical time evolutions in one unified language. It allows for a direct comparison between quantum and classical dynamics, providing insight into the relations between quantum and classical behavior, while also revealing a smooth transition between quantum and classical time evolutions. In particular, the $\hbar\to 0$ limit of the quantum equations of motion instantly recovers their classical counterpart. We also argue that the derived equations may prove to be very useful in numerical simulations.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.0803.0108

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In this paper, we derive equations of motion for the normal-order, the symmetric-order and the antinormal-order quantum characteristic functions, applicable for general Hamiltonian systems. We do this by utilizing the `characteristic form' of both quantum states and Hamiltonians. The equations of motion we derive here are rather simple in form and in essence, and as such have a number of attractive features. As we shall see, our approach enables the descriptions of quantum and classical time evolutions in one unified language. It allows for a direct comparison between quantum and classical dynamics, providing insight into the relations between quantum and classical behavior, while also revealing a smooth transition between quantum and classical time evolutions. In particular, the ℏ→0\hbar\to 0ℏ→0 limit of the quantum equations of motion instantly recovers their classical counterpart. We also argue that the derived equations may prove to be very useful in numerical simulations.
Fourier transforms of the von Neumann density operators could be regarded as functions on a Lie group whose infinitesimal generators correspond to dynamical variables characterizing a given quantum system. Called ``characteristic functions'' in this paper, they are discussed with a view to reformulating quantum statistical mechanics in a group-theoretical formalism. It is shown that these characteristic functions allow a universal differentiating procedure for calculating averages of arbitrary ordered noncommuting observables and satisfy the same criterion of non-negative definiteness as the Fourier transforms of the everywhere non-negative probability distribution (the characteristic functions in classical probability theory). The group-theoretical characteristic-function formalism is especially useful in providing easy reductions of the dynamics of complicated quantum systems to the evolutions of a set of quantum variables that are of particular interest. As examples of applications, the following results are derived: (a) a hierarchy of equations of motion for subsystems of a given N-body quantum system (a quantum analog of the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy), (b) an equation of motion for centers of mass of two interacting quantum systems, and (c) the behavior of spin fluctuations of an ideal spin gas in the thermodynamic limit.
Hamiltonian mechanics describes the evolution of a system through its Hamiltonian. The Hamiltonian typically also represents the energy observable, a Noether-conserved quantity associated with the time invariance of the law of evolution. In both quantum and classical mechanics, Hamiltonian mechanics demands a precise relationship between time evolution and observable energy, albeit using slightly different terminology. We distill basic conditions satisfied in both quantum and classical mechanics, including canonical coordinate symmetries and inner product invariance. We express these conditions in the framework of generalized probabilistic theories, which includes generalizing the definition of energy eigenstates in terms of time-invariant properties of the Hamiltonian system. By postulating these conditions to hold, we derive a unified Hamiltonian system model. This unified framework describes quantum and classical mechanics in a consistent language, facilitating their comparison. We moreover discuss alternative theories: an equation of motion given by a mixture of commutation relations, an information-restricted version of quantum theory, and Spekken's toy theory. The findings give a deeper understanding of the Hamiltonian in quantum and classical theories and point to several potential research topics.
The notion of quantum-classical correspondence is carefully investigated in order to prepare firm grounds for studying the spatiotemporal evolution of quantum states in the same spirit as for corresponding classical cases. Three relevant problems, (1) the integrability of dynamical equations of quantum systems, (2) the initial minimum uncertainty states one-to-one correspondent to classical phase points, and (3) the effective Planck constants for systems having analogous dynamical properties but exhibiting different quantum effects, have been successfully resolved. Then the solution ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}(t)$ of the dynamical equation of a quantum integrable system is shown to be expressed as an analytical functional of the initial minimum uncertainty state ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{0}$ varying smoothly with $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and t. Such a general character of the quantum regular motion serves as a reference for the study of quantum irregular motion under the action of perturbed Hamiltonian.
Abstract We investigate quantum effects in the evolution of general systems. For studying such temporal quantum phenomena, it is paramount to have a rigorous concept and profound understanding of the classical dynamics in such a system in the first place. For this reason, we derive from first principles equations of motions that describe the classical propagation in quantum systems. A comparison of this classical model with the actual temporal quantum behavior enables us to identify quantum phenomena in the system’s dynamics and distinguish them from static quantum features at individual points in time. For instance, we show how Newton’s second law emerges as a special case of our general treatment, connecting it to a Schrödinger-type equation. As applications of our universal technique, we analyze nonlinear optical processes, semiclassical models, and the multipartite entanglement dynamics of macroscopic ensembles.
Classical and quantum physics represent two distinct theories; however, quantum physics is regarded as the more fundamental of the two. It is posited that classical mechanics should arise from quantum mechanics under certain limiting conditions. Nevertheless, this remains a challenging objective. In this work, we explore the potential for unifying the dynamics of classical and quantum physics. This discussion does not suggest that classical behavior emerges from quantum mechanics; rather, it demonstrates the exact equivalence between the dynamics of quantum observables and their classical counterparts. It is shown that the Heisenberg equations of motion can be cast in a form that is structurally equivalent to Newton's equations of motion, with ℏ\hbarℏ dropping out from the equations. In a generalized analysis, the Heisenberg equations are cast in a form that is identical to the classical Hamilton's equations of motion. This implies that both quantum and classical dynamics are governed by the same form of equations, with the Heisenberg operators substituting the classical observables.
A new equation of motion, which describes the time evolution of the PPP representation in the Schr\"odinger picture, is derived. The equation applies to a very general class of Hamiltonians, and thus should be useful in many problems. As a demonstration of the usefulness of this equation, some known results are recovered by its direct application.