© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

arXiv:2512.01590

Directly computing Wigner functions for open quantum systems

Nick Huggett, Christian Käding, Mario Pitschmann, James Read

quant-phhep-phhep-thSubmitted Dec 1, 2025• Announced Dec 2, 2025• 0 citations

v1 · Dec 1, 2025 v2 · May 5, 2026

Abstract

The Wigner function is a well-known phase space distribution function with many applications in quantum mechanics. In this article, we consider an open quantum system consisting of a non-relativistic single particle interacting with a general, possibly relativistic environment. For this system, we derive an expression for directly computing the time-dependent Wigner function from its initial values. This result renders time-dependent Wigner functions more applicable without having to make additional approximations that would otherwise be required in order to solve the corresponding equation of motion. As an illustration of our findings, we discuss the example of a non-relativistic single scalar particle interacting via a Yukawa interaction with an environment comprising another type of scalar field that is treated relativistically.

Comments: 17 pages, 4 figures

Related papers

Wigner current for open quantum systems

William F. Braasch, Oscar D. Friedman, A. J. Rimberg +1 more

We extend the Wigner current vector field (Wigner current) construct to single bosonic mode quantum systems interacting with an environment. In terms of the Wigner function quasiprobability density and associated Wigner current, the open system quantum dynamics can be concisely expressed as a continuity equation. Through the consideration of the harmonic oscillator and additively driven Duffing oscillator in the bistable regime as illustrative system examples, we show how the evolving Wigner current vector field on the system phase space yields useful geometric insights concerning how quantum states decohere away due to interactions with the environment, as well as how they may be stabilized through the counteracting effects of the system anharmonicity (i.e., nonlinearity).

arXiv:1703.04844•Physical Review A•Jul 23, 2019•25 citations

Wigner function of a relativistic particle in a time-dependent linear potential

Sh. M. Nagiyev

We construct phase-space representations for a relativistic particle in both a constant and a time-dependent linear potential. We obtain explicit expressions for the Wigner distribution functions for these systems and find the correct nonrelativistic limit and free-particle limit for these functions. We derive the relativistic dynamical equation governing the time development of the Wigner distribution function and relativistic equation for the Wigner distribution function of stationary states and also calculate the amplitudes of transitions between energy states.

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics•Jul 1, 2016•4 citations

Operator equation of motion in phase space: Application to time-dependent systems possessing invariants

Swapan Kumar Ghosh, Asish Kumar Dhara

We have derived an equation of motion for a Wigner operator in phase space, which is the phase-space analog of the Heisenberg equation of motion for a quantum-mechanical operator. An application of this operator equation to time-dependent systems possessing invariants is considered, and the solution for the corresponding Wigner phase-space distribution function is obtained.

Physical Review A•Jul 1, 1991•4 citations

Wigner Functionals and their Dynamics in Quantum-Field-Theory

Herbert Nachbagauer

We reformulate time evolution of systems in mixed states in terms of the classical observables of correlators using the Weyl correspondence rule. The resulting equation of motion for the Wigner functional of the density matrix is found to be of the Liouville type. To illustrate the methods developed, we explicitly consider a scalar theory with quartic self-interaction and derive the short time behaviour with the non-interacting thermal density matrix as initial condition. In the scalar case, the complete correlator hierarchy is studied and restrictions are derived for spatially homogeneous initial conditions and systems with unbroken symmetry.

arXiv:hep-th/9703105•Mar 14, 1997•1 citation

Efficient Approximation of the Wigner Kernel in Phase-Space Quantum Mechanics

Mehran Attar, Bassant Selim, Jean Michel Sellier

The Signed Particle Formulation provides a particle-based interpretation of quantum mechanics in phase space, where quantum dynamics are represented through the creation and evolution of signed particles. A central computational challenge in this framework is the evaluation of the Wigner kernel, which generally involves highly oscillatory integrals and can become computationally demanding in time-dependent simulations. This paper proposes an analytical approximation of the Wigner kernel for one-dimensional single body quantum systems by exploiting a series-based representation of the potential function. The resulting expression provides an efficient way to approximate the Wigner kernel and the associated Gamma function, which governs the particle-generation process in the Signed Particle Formulation framework. The proposed approximation is evaluated for several Gaussian-based potential profiles, including single, double, triple, and quadruple Gaussian potentials. Numerical comparisons between the approximated and directly computed Wigner kernels and Gamma functions show that the proposed method captures the main behavior of the exact quantities while significantly reducing the computational cost. These results indicate that the proposed approximation can serve as an efficient computational component for scalable Signed Particle Formulation based quantum simulations.

quant-pharXiv:2606.28269•Jun 29, 2026•0 citations

Wigner functional of fermionic fields

Stanisław Mrówczyński

The Wigner function, which provides a phase-space description of quantum systems, has various applications in quantum mechanics, quantum kinetic theory, quantum optics, radiation transport and others. The concept of the Wigner function has been extended to quantum fields, scalar and electromagnetic. Then, one deals with the Wigner functional which gives a distribution of field and its conjugate momentum. We introduce here the Wigner functional of fermionic fields of the values in a Grassmann algebra. Properties of the functional are discussed and its equation of motion, which is of the Liouville form, is derived.

arXiv:1212.5703•Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields•Mar 26, 2013•11 citations

The Wigner function is a well-known phase space distribution function with many applications in quantum mechanics. In this article, we consider an open quantum system consisting of a non-relativistic single particle interacting with a general, possibly relativistic environment. For this system, we derive an expression for directly computing the time-dependent Wigner function from its initial values. This result renders time-dependent Wigner functions more applicable without having to make additional approximations that would otherwise be required in order to solve the corresponding equation of motion. As an illustration of our findings, we discuss the example of a non-relativistic single scalar particle interacting via a Yukawa interaction with an environment comprising another type of scalar field that is treated relativistically.

We extend the Wigner current vector field (Wigner current) construct to single bosonic mode quantum systems interacting with an environment. In terms of the Wigner function quasiprobability density and associated Wigner current, the open system quantum dynamics can be concisely expressed as a continuity equation. Through the consideration of the harmonic oscillator and additively driven Duffing oscillator in the bistable regime as illustrative system examples, we show how the evolving Wigner current vector field on the system phase space yields useful geometric insights concerning how quantum states decohere away due to interactions with the environment, as well as how they may be stabilized through the counteracting effects of the system anharmonicity (i.e., nonlinearity).

We construct phase-space representations for a relativistic particle in both a constant and a time-dependent linear potential. We obtain explicit expressions for the Wigner distribution functions for these systems and find the correct nonrelativistic limit and free-particle limit for these functions. We derive the relativistic dynamical equation governing the time development of the Wigner distribution function and relativistic equation for the Wigner distribution function of stationary states and also calculate the amplitudes of transitions between energy states.

We reformulate time evolution of systems in mixed states in terms of the classical observables of correlators using the Weyl correspondence rule. The resulting equation of motion for the Wigner functional of the density matrix is found to be of the Liouville type. To illustrate the methods developed, we explicitly consider a scalar theory with quartic self-interaction and derive the short time behaviour with the non-interacting thermal density matrix as initial condition. In the scalar case, the complete correlator hierarchy is studied and restrictions are derived for spatially homogeneous initial conditions and systems with unbroken symmetry.

The Signed Particle Formulation provides a particle-based interpretation of quantum mechanics in phase space, where quantum dynamics are represented through the creation and evolution of signed particles. A central computational challenge in this framework is the evaluation of the Wigner kernel, which generally involves highly oscillatory integrals and can become computationally demanding in time-dependent simulations. This paper proposes an analytical approximation of the Wigner kernel for one-dimensional single body quantum systems by exploiting a series-based representation of the potential function. The resulting expression provides an efficient way to approximate the Wigner kernel and the associated Gamma function, which governs the particle-generation process in the Signed Particle Formulation framework. The proposed approximation is evaluated for several Gaussian-based potential profiles, including single, double, triple, and quadruple Gaussian potentials. Numerical comparisons between the approximated and directly computed Wigner kernels and Gamma functions show that the proposed method captures the main behavior of the exact quantities while significantly reducing the computational cost. These results indicate that the proposed approximation can serve as an efficient computational component for scalable Signed Particle Formulation based quantum simulations.

The Wigner function, which provides a phase-space description of quantum systems, has various applications in quantum mechanics, quantum kinetic theory, quantum optics, radiation transport and others. The concept of the Wigner function has been extended to quantum fields, scalar and electromagnetic. Then, one deals with the Wigner functional which gives a distribution of field and its conjugate momentum. We introduce here the Wigner functional of fermionic fields of the values in a Grassmann algebra. Properties of the functional are discussed and its equation of motion, which is of the Liouville form, is derived.