Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1810.11519

Beyond Complex Langevin Equations: a Progress Report

J. Wosiek, Błażej Ruba

Published Oct 26, 2018• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

After a short review of one of proposals to avoid complex stochastic processes in Complex Langevin studies, the recent progress in the former is reported. In particular, the new developments allow now to construct positive and normalizable representations for gaussian quantum mechanical, as well as field theoretical, path integrals directly in the Minkowski time. A relation to the idea of thimbles is also discussed.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1810.11519

Related papers

Beyond complex Langevin equations I: two simple examples

J. Wosiek

By introducing a second complex variable, the integral relation between a complex density and the corresponding positive distribution is derived. Together with the positivity and normalizability conditions, this sum rule allows to construct explicitly equivalent pairs of distributions in simple cases discussed here. In particular the well known solution for a complex gaussian distribution is generalized to an arbitrary complex inverse dispersion parameter. This opens a possibility of positive representation of Feynman path integrals directly in the Minkowski time.

arXiv:1511.09083•Nov 29, 2015•6 citations

Beyond complex Langevin equations

J. Wosiek

A simple integral relation between a complex weight and the corresponding positive distribution is derived by introducing a second complex variable. Together with the positivity and normalizability conditions, this sum rule allows to construct explicitly equivalent pairs of distributions in simple cases. In particular the well known solution for a complex gaussian distribution is generalized to an arbitrary complex slope. This opens a possibility of positive representation of Feynman path integrals directly in the Minkowski time. Such construction is then explicitly carried through in the second part of this presentation. The continuum limit of the new representation exists only if some of the additional couplings tend to infinity and are tuned in a specific way. The approach is then successfully applied to three quantum mechanical examples including a particle in a constant magnetic field -- a simplest prototype of a Wilson line. Further generalizations are shortly discussed and an amusing interpretation of new variables is briefly mentioned.

arXiv:1610.06874•International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (LATTICE)•Feb 17, 2017•1 citation

Langevin Formulation of Quantum Dynamics

M. Roncadelli

We first point out that nonrelativistic quantum mechanics formulated at imaginary time s = it can formally be recognized as the Fokker-Planck description of a classical Brownian motion, which occurs (in general) in a medium where particles are absorbed and emitted. We next offer a new formulation of quantum dynamics, which is basically the Langevin treatment of that Brownian motion. More explicitly, we derive a noise average representation of the transition probability W ( X", s"|X', s' ) in terms of the solutions to a Langevin equation with a Gaussian white noise. Upon analytic continuation back to real time W ( X", s"|X', s' ) becomes the propagator of the original Schrödinger equation, namely we have ⟨ X", t"|X', t' ⟩ = W ( X", it"|X', it' ). The main advantage of this approach is to permit a systematic application to quantum-dynamical problems of the mathematical techniques developed in the theory of classical stochastic processes, even when vector potentials and/or time-dependent potentials are present.

Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Oct 14, 1991•9 citations

Mathematical Feynman Path Integrals and Their Applications

Sonia Mazzucchi

"Feynman path integrals are ubiquitous in quantum physics, even if a large part of the scientific community still considers them as a heuristic tool that lacks a sound mathematical definition. Our book aims to refute this prejudice, providing an extensive and self-contained description of the mathematical theory of Feynman path integration, from the earlier attempts to the latest developments, as well as its applications to quantum mechanics. This second edition presents a detailed discussion of the general theory of complex integration on infinite dimensional spaces, providing on one hand a unified view of the various existing approaches to the mathematical construction of Feynman path integrals and on the other hand a connection with the classical theory of stochastic processes. Moreover, new chapters containing recent applications to several dynamical systems have been added. This book bridges between the realms of stochastic analysis and the theory of Feynman path integration. It is accessible to both mathematicians and physicists"--

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks•Nov 7, 2019•3 citations

Stabilizing simulations of complex stochastic representations for quantum dynamical systems

Corentin Perret-Gentil, W. P. Petersen

Path integral representations of quantum dynamics can often be formulated as stochastic differential equations (SDEs).In a series of papers, Corney and Drummond (2004

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical•Feb 10, 2011•2 citations

Equilibrating continuous-variable open quantum systems using stochastic classical trajectories in path-integral space

William H. D. Moore, Stuart C. Althorpe

Beyond the weak-coupling limit, open quantum systems equilibrate to a highly entangled thermal state. For continuous-variable systems, this state can be written explicitly as an imaginary-time phase-space path integral, in which the positions are directly entangled with the bath, and the momenta are correlated with the positions through a phase term. Here, we ask to what extent this state can be reached by propagating stochastic classical trajectories in path-integral phase space. Surprisingly, we find that the trajectories equilibrate to the exact quantum equilibrium state, recovering the purely imaginary momentum-position correlation in the phase term. The trajectories are generated using a recently derived Matsubara generalized Langevin equation, which produces the imaginary correlations by evolving the stochastic variables into the complex plane. This makes the dynamics numerically unstable, but we are nonetheless able to demonstrate the equilibration of a quartic oscillator coupled to a white-noise bath. These unexpected findings could lead to new approximate methodologies for simulating continuous-variable open quantum systems.

quant-pharXiv:2606.10665•Jun 10, 2026•0 citations
After a short review of one of proposals to avoid complex stochastic processes in Complex Langevin studies, the recent progress in the former is reported. In particular, the new developments allow now to construct positive and normalizable representations for gaussian quantum mechanical, as well as field theoretical, path integrals directly in the Minkowski time. A relation to the idea of thimbles is also discussed.
By introducing a second complex variable, the integral relation between a complex density and the corresponding positive distribution is derived. Together with the positivity and normalizability conditions, this sum rule allows to construct explicitly equivalent pairs of distributions in simple cases discussed here. In particular the well known solution for a complex gaussian distribution is generalized to an arbitrary complex inverse dispersion parameter. This opens a possibility of positive representation of Feynman path integrals directly in the Minkowski time.
A simple integral relation between a complex weight and the corresponding positive distribution is derived by introducing a second complex variable. Together with the positivity and normalizability conditions, this sum rule allows to construct explicitly equivalent pairs of distributions in simple cases. In particular the well known solution for a complex gaussian distribution is generalized to an arbitrary complex slope. This opens a possibility of positive representation of Feynman path integrals directly in the Minkowski time. Such construction is then explicitly carried through in the second part of this presentation. The continuum limit of the new representation exists only if some of the additional couplings tend to infinity and are tuned in a specific way. The approach is then successfully applied to three quantum mechanical examples including a particle in a constant magnetic field -- a simplest prototype of a Wilson line. Further generalizations are shortly discussed and an amusing interpretation of new variables is briefly mentioned.
We first point out that nonrelativistic quantum mechanics formulated at imaginary time s = it can formally be recognized as the Fokker-Planck description of a classical Brownian motion, which occurs (in general) in a medium where particles are absorbed and emitted. We next offer a new formulation of quantum dynamics, which is basically the Langevin treatment of that Brownian motion. More explicitly, we derive a noise average representation of the transition probability W ( X", s"|X', s' ) in terms of the solutions to a Langevin equation with a Gaussian white noise. Upon analytic continuation back to real time W ( X", s"|X', s' ) becomes the propagator of the original Schrödinger equation, namely we have ⟨ X", t"|X', t' ⟩ = W ( X", it"|X', it' ). The main advantage of this approach is to permit a systematic application to quantum-dynamical problems of the mathematical techniques developed in the theory of classical stochastic processes, even when vector potentials and/or time-dependent potentials are present.
"Feynman path integrals are ubiquitous in quantum physics, even if a large part of the scientific community still considers them as a heuristic tool that lacks a sound mathematical definition. Our book aims to refute this prejudice, providing an extensive and self-contained description of the mathematical theory of Feynman path integration, from the earlier attempts to the latest developments, as well as its applications to quantum mechanics. This second edition presents a detailed discussion of the general theory of complex integration on infinite dimensional spaces, providing on one hand a unified view of the various existing approaches to the mathematical construction of Feynman path integrals and on the other hand a connection with the classical theory of stochastic processes. Moreover, new chapters containing recent applications to several dynamical systems have been added. This book bridges between the realms of stochastic analysis and the theory of Feynman path integration. It is accessible to both mathematicians and physicists"--
Beyond the weak-coupling limit, open quantum systems equilibrate to a highly entangled thermal state. For continuous-variable systems, this state can be written explicitly as an imaginary-time phase-space path integral, in which the positions are directly entangled with the bath, and the momenta are correlated with the positions through a phase term. Here, we ask to what extent this state can be reached by propagating stochastic classical trajectories in path-integral phase space. Surprisingly, we find that the trajectories equilibrate to the exact quantum equilibrium state, recovering the purely imaginary momentum-position correlation in the phase term. The trajectories are generated using a recently derived Matsubara generalized Langevin equation, which produces the imaginary correlations by evolving the stochastic variables into the complex plane. This makes the dynamics numerically unstable, but we are nonetheless able to demonstrate the equilibration of a quartic oscillator coupled to a white-noise bath. These unexpected findings could lead to new approximate methodologies for simulating continuous-variable open quantum systems.