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:2412.08999 · Modern Physics Letters A

Operator formulation of classical mechanics: Levi-Civita map and equivalence of central forces in two dimensions

Nikhil Kasyap Puranam, E. Harikumar

Published Oct 13, 2025• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We study the operator formulation of classical mechanics by explicitly applying it to two central potentials in two dimensions. After constructing the classical Hamiltonian operators and corresponding Schrödinger-like equations, we solve for the corresponding classical wave functions associated with these two potentials, viz, Kepler and harmonic potentials. While satisfying continuity equations, these classical wave functions are shown to be renormalizable only in a finite region of the 2D plane. We also derive the well-known equivalence between these two models within the operator formulation of classical mechanics. This equivalence is shown by relating the Schrödinger-like equations and corresponding classical wave functions of these two systems, using the Levi-Civita map and a reparametrization of time (Sundman map).

DOI
10.1142/s0217732325501780

Related papers

On a Parallelism between Classical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics

Yoshio Nishiyama

Striking parallelism between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics is evidenced for several bound system in a rather general form by introducing reasonably “quantum-mechanical momentum” from the Schrödinger equation. The following are proved: The “quantum-mechanical momentum” which is nearly equal to the corresponding classical momentum in “classical region” can be defined in the whole range of validity of the coordinate for the bound systems. In the same way as in classical mechanics, in quantum mechanics one can construct an associated wave accompanying a motion of a quantum particle and obeying the Schrödinger equation. The uniqueness condition on the associated wave throughout an orbit leads to the boundary condition on the wave function which is composed of the associated wave and to “quantum-mechanical quantization condition”, equivalently. In addition, all these quantum-mechanical quantities are approximately equal to the corresponding classical ones in the “classical region” of the coordinate. In particular it is demonstrated that even for a bound system of a singular (central) potential exists the ground state with the lowest energy eigenvalue. It is proved in one dimension that to any physical system obeying the Schrödinger equation always exists the corresponding classical system.

Progress of Theoretical Physics•Aug 1, 1965•0 citations

Reparametrization-invariant formulation of classical mechanics and the Schrödinger equation

Alexei A. Deriglazov, B. F. Rizzuti

Any classical-mechanics system can be formulated in reparametrization-invariant form. That is, we use the parametric representation for the trajectories, x=x(τ) and t=t(τ) instead of x=x(t). We discuss the quantization rules in this formulation and show that some of the rules become clearer. In particular, both the temporal and the spatial coordinates are subject to quantization, and the canonical Hamiltonian in the reparametrization-invariant formulation is proportional to H̃=pt+H, where H is the usual Hamiltonian and pt is the momentum conjugate to the variable t. Due to reparametrization invariance, H̃ vanishes for any solution, and hence the corresponding quantum-mechanical operator has the property H̃∧Ψ=0, which is the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, iℏ∂tΨ=H∧Ψ. We discuss the quantum mechanics of a relativistic particle as an example.

arXiv:1105.0313•American Journal of Physics•Jul 26, 2011•20 citations

The Relation between Classical Mechanics and Wave Mechanics

Yoshio Nishiyama

Introducing a dimensional unit \hbar into classical mechanics, we make classical wave functions √ρ1exp (iS1/\hbar)-√ρ2exp (iS2/\hbar) for a one-particle system in the configuration space where √ρ1exp (iS1/\hbar) corresponds to the incident path (or one half) of an orbit and √ρ2exp (iS2/\hbar) to the outgoing (or another half), and ρ's and S's are densities and actions respectively. These classical wave functions are compared with the corresponding wave functions of solutions of the Schrödinger equation for three one-particle systems, the scattering by a Coulomb potential, the linear harmonic oscillator and an electron bound by a Coulomb potential. From the essential correspondence between them it is concluded that the Schrödinger wave function describes the steady, causal but a little imaginary motion of the one-particle system as √ρexp (iS/\hbar) in the configuration space where ρ is a density and S an action, and that the states which the wave equation describes exist continuously (not discrete) and the (discrete) stationary states are the ones where √ρexp (iS/\hbar) is uniquely determined throughout an orbit. The Dirac equation shows that an electron of optics (or the electromagnetic wave equation) can be considered as the Schrödinger (or Dirac) equation for the motion of a photon, a particle, in a potential. A quantum-electrodynamical wave equation which is composed of the Dirac equation with a Coulomb potential and the electromagnetic wave equation is constructed for the steady motion of a one-electron system without recource to the so-called second-quantization method. It gives finite energy shifts. A line shift is calculated: ΔE(2S1/2 →2P1/2) \cong709 Mc/s.

Progress of Theoretical Physics•Nov 1, 1963•1 citation

Quantum mechanics from Newton's second law and the canonical commutation relation [ X , P ] = i

Mark C. Palenik

Despite the fact that it has been known since the time of Heisenberg that quantum operators obey a quantum version of Newton's laws, students are often told that derivations of quantum mechanics must necessarily follow from the Hamiltonian or Lagrangian formulations of mechanics. Here, we first derive the existing Heisenberg equations of motion from Newton's laws and the uncertainty principle using only the equations $F=\frac{dP}{dt}$, $P=m\frac{dV}{dt}$, and $\left[X,P\right]=i$. Then, a new expression for the propagator is derived that makes a connection between time evolution in quantum mechanics and the motion of a classical particle under Newton's laws. The propagator is solved for three cases where an exact solution is possible 1) the free particle 2) the harmonic oscillator 3) a constant force, or linear potential in the standard interpretation. Such a picture may be useful for students as they make the transition from classical to quantum mechanics and help solidify the equivalence of the Hamiltonian, Lagrangian, and Newtonian formulations of physics in their minds.

arXiv:1402.0396•European Journal of Physics•May 9, 2014•4 citations

Quantum Mechanics is consistent with Classical Mechanics: Schr\"odinger meets Kirchhoff

K. V. S. Shiv Chaitanya

In this paper, we show that in two dimensions quantum mechanics can be mapped onto classical mechanics, by transforming the Schr\odinger equation into system of $n$ linear equations known as Kirchhoff equations. These Kirchhoff equations equations satisfy the a poison bracket relationship in phase space which is identical to the Heisenberg uncertainty relationship. Therefore, we conclude that quantum mechanics is consistent with classical mechanics atleast in two dimensions. This allows us to address the wave particle duality in terms of relative phase. As an illustration we show that the equation for optical vortices can be derived as Kirchhoff equation admit a paraxial wave equation in presence of real constant background.

•Sep 13, 2018•0 citations

The Classical Limit of Quantum Mechanics

Velton Wade Hefley

The Feynman path integral formulation of quantum mechanics is a path integral representation for a propagator or probability amplitude in going between two points in space-time. The wave function is expressed in terms of an integral equation from which the Schrodinger equation can be derived. On taking the limit h — 0, the method of stationary phase can be applied and Newton's second law of motion is obtained. Also, the condition the phase vanishes leads to the Hamilton - Jacobi equation. The secondary objective of this paper is to study ways of relating quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. The Ehrenfest theorem is applied to a particle in an electromagnetic field. Expressions are found which are the hermitian Lorentz force operator, the hermitian torque operator, and the hermitian power operator.

•Dec 1, 1977•1 citation
We study the operator formulation of classical mechanics by explicitly applying it to two central potentials in two dimensions. After constructing the classical Hamiltonian operators and corresponding Schrödinger-like equations, we solve for the corresponding classical wave functions associated with these two potentials, viz, Kepler and harmonic potentials. While satisfying continuity equations, these classical wave functions are shown to be renormalizable only in a finite region of the 2D plane. We also derive the well-known equivalence between these two models within the operator formulation of classical mechanics. This equivalence is shown by relating the Schrödinger-like equations and corresponding classical wave functions of these two systems, using the Levi-Civita map and a reparametrization of time (Sundman map).
Striking parallelism between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics is evidenced for several bound system in a rather general form by introducing reasonably “quantum-mechanical momentum” from the Schrödinger equation. The following are proved: The “quantum-mechanical momentum” which is nearly equal to the corresponding classical momentum in “classical region” can be defined in the whole range of validity of the coordinate for the bound systems. In the same way as in classical mechanics, in quantum mechanics one can construct an associated wave accompanying a motion of a quantum particle and obeying the Schrödinger equation. The uniqueness condition on the associated wave throughout an orbit leads to the boundary condition on the wave function which is composed of the associated wave and to “quantum-mechanical quantization condition”, equivalently. In addition, all these quantum-mechanical quantities are approximately equal to the corresponding classical ones in the “classical region” of the coordinate. In particular it is demonstrated that even for a bound system of a singular (central) potential exists the ground state with the lowest energy eigenvalue. It is proved in one dimension that to any physical system obeying the Schrödinger equation always exists the corresponding classical system.
Any classical-mechanics system can be formulated in reparametrization-invariant form. That is, we use the parametric representation for the trajectories, x=x(τ) and t=t(τ) instead of x=x(t). We discuss the quantization rules in this formulation and show that some of the rules become clearer. In particular, both the temporal and the spatial coordinates are subject to quantization, and the canonical Hamiltonian in the reparametrization-invariant formulation is proportional to H̃=pt+H, where H is the usual Hamiltonian and pt is the momentum conjugate to the variable t. Due to reparametrization invariance, H̃ vanishes for any solution, and hence the corresponding quantum-mechanical operator has the property H̃∧Ψ=0, which is the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, iℏ∂tΨ=H∧Ψ. We discuss the quantum mechanics of a relativistic particle as an example.
Introducing a dimensional unit \hbar into classical mechanics, we make classical wave functions √ρ1exp (iS1/\hbar)-√ρ2exp (iS2/\hbar) for a one-particle system in the configuration space where √ρ1exp (iS1/\hbar) corresponds to the incident path (or one half) of an orbit and √ρ2exp (iS2/\hbar) to the outgoing (or another half), and ρ's and S's are densities and actions respectively. These classical wave functions are compared with the corresponding wave functions of solutions of the Schrödinger equation for three one-particle systems, the scattering by a Coulomb potential, the linear harmonic oscillator and an electron bound by a Coulomb potential. From the essential correspondence between them it is concluded that the Schrödinger wave function describes the steady, causal but a little imaginary motion of the one-particle system as √ρexp (iS/\hbar) in the configuration space where ρ is a density and S an action, and that the states which the wave equation describes exist continuously (not discrete) and the (discrete) stationary states are the ones where √ρexp (iS/\hbar) is uniquely determined throughout an orbit. The Dirac equation shows that an electron of optics (or the electromagnetic wave equation) can be considered as the Schrödinger (or Dirac) equation for the motion of a photon, a particle, in a potential. A quantum-electrodynamical wave equation which is composed of the Dirac equation with a Coulomb potential and the electromagnetic wave equation is constructed for the steady motion of a one-electron system without recource to the so-called second-quantization method. It gives finite energy shifts. A line shift is calculated: ΔE(2S1/2 →2P1/2) \cong709 Mc/s.
Despite the fact that it has been known since the time of Heisenberg that quantum operators obey a quantum version of Newton's laws, students are often told that derivations of quantum mechanics must necessarily follow from the Hamiltonian or Lagrangian formulations of mechanics. Here, we first derive the existing Heisenberg equations of motion from Newton's laws and the uncertainty principle using only the equations F=dPdtF=\frac{dP}{dt}F=dtdP​, P=mdVdtP=m\frac{dV}{dt}P=mdtdV​, and [X,P]=i\left[X,P\right]=i[X,P]=i. Then, a new expression for the propagator is derived that makes a connection between time evolution in quantum mechanics and the motion of a classical particle under Newton's laws. The propagator is solved for three cases where an exact solution is possible 1) the free particle 2) the harmonic oscillator 3) a constant force, or linear potential in the standard interpretation. Such a picture may be useful for students as they make the transition from classical to quantum mechanics and help solidify the equivalence of the Hamiltonian, Lagrangian, and Newtonian formulations of physics in their minds.
In this paper, we show that in two dimensions quantum mechanics can be mapped onto classical mechanics, by transforming the Schr\odinger equation into system of nnn linear equations known as Kirchhoff equations. These Kirchhoff equations equations satisfy the a poison bracket relationship in phase space which is identical to the Heisenberg uncertainty relationship. Therefore, we conclude that quantum mechanics is consistent with classical mechanics atleast in two dimensions. This allows us to address the wave particle duality in terms of relative phase. As an illustration we show that the equation for optical vortices can be derived as Kirchhoff equation admit a paraxial wave equation in presence of real constant background.
The Feynman path integral formulation of quantum mechanics is a path integral representation for a propagator or probability amplitude in going between two points in space-time. The wave function is expressed in terms of an integral equation from which the Schrodinger equation can be derived. On taking the limit h — 0, the method of stationary phase can be applied and Newton's second law of motion is obtained. Also, the condition the phase vanishes leads to the Hamilton - Jacobi equation. The secondary objective of this paper is to study ways of relating quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. The Ehrenfest theorem is applied to a particle in an electromagnetic field. Expressions are found which are the hermitian Lorentz force operator, the hermitian torque operator, and the hermitian power operator.