It is shown that phase-space distribution functions that characterize a single-particle quantum system obey a certain "generalized non-negativity condition," which reflects the fact that the density operator is a positive operator. A corresponding criterion is obtained for the associated characteristic functions and is found to resemble, to some extent, Bochner's theorem of classical probability theory. Necessary and sufficient conditions on a phase-space representation of quantum mechanics are also derived, which ensure that all the possible distribution functions in that representation are non-negative; but it is also shown that such distribution functions are not joint probabilities for position and momentum. In fact, our results readily provide a new proof of theorems of Wigner, and of Cohen and Margenau, which imply that quantum mechanics cannot be formulated as a stochastic theory in phase space.
The Husimi function provides a phase-space view of quantum systems. This paper considers a number of its properties, including ways in which it can be expanded in terms of basis functions. A spectral or ‘‘natural’’ expansion and an expansion analogous to the Carlson–Keller expansion in terms of coordinate-density momentum-density products are considered, as is a method for separating the angular dependence of the momentum. There is a set of functions in phase space having the same overlap properties as the initial orbital basis in terms of which the charge density matrix is expressed. A Husimi matrix is defined and a scalar product in the space containing such matrices as elements is introduced. The connection with the vector space of density matrices is examined. The Husimi function is related to the Husimi matrix in a way analogous to the relationship between a density matrix and a density, but there is a major difference in that this map can always be inverted. For a harmonic oscillator basis the phase space basis functions, in terms of which the Husimi function is expressed, span a linear space but do not provide a complete set; their products provide a linearly independent set that is complete. It is suggested that similar behavior can be expected for other basis sets.
Abstract This paper considers a Husimi representation of quantum mechanics in which the (stationary) state of a system or ensemble is described by a Husimi function and an observable is described by a phase space function or distribution such that the expectation value of the observable is given by an integral over phase space of the product of that function or distribution and the Husimi function. The density matrix, Wigner function, and Husimi function are considered to be alternative ways of describing the state of a system or ensemble, and methods of recovering the Wigner function or density matrix from the Husimi function are discussed. The classical limits of the Wigner and Husimi functions and of the relationship between them are considered. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The so-called stellar formalism allows us to represent the non-Gaussian properties of single-mode quantum states by the distribution of the zeros of their Husimi Q function in phase space. We use this representation in order to derive an infinite hierarchy of single-mode states based on the number of zeros of the Husimi Q function: the stellar hierarchy. We give an operational characterization of the states in this hierarchy with the minimal number of single-photon additions needed to engineer them, and derive equivalence classes under Gaussian unitary operations. We study in detail the topological properties of this hierarchy with respect to the trace norm, and discuss implications for non-Gaussian state engineering, and continuous variable quantum computing.
We compare quantum phase space distributions of individual quantum states of the diamagnetic hydrogen atom obtained by means of Wigner functions with those given by Husimi functions. The comparison is carried out at effective h(cross) approximately 0.035 and at a fixed scaled energy ( epsilon =-0.316) which corresponds to an especially interesting mixed classical phase-space structure. The object of the comparison is to establish which of the two distributions best correlates with the classical Poincare surface of section for a representative set of single states. As expected, the states investigated display the strongest positive intensity on a single local invariant phase-space structure (such as a scar or torus) and at this level there is little difference between the Husimi and the Wigner function. However the weak structures (fringes of the Wigner function or zeros of the Husimi function) are shown here to be radically different for the Wigner relative to the Husimi representation. In both cases the weak structures permeate all of phase space. In addition they show different character for integrable and chaotic dynamics and so reflect the global structure of phase-space to a much greater extent than the localized strong structure. The Wigner functions of selected states are shown to have additional dynamically significant structures which are not apparent in the Husimi functions. These include negative intensity features seen in the Wigner-but not the Husimi-functions which are very well correlated with structures of the classical Poincare surfaces of section. Despite its complex oscillatory nature the Wigner function delineates better classical features, for example showing the outline of islands of stability avoided by states supported by chaotic regions with greater sharpness than the Husimi function.
Phase-space and quasiprobability methods now play operational roles in quantum technologies, characterizing localization, non-Gaussianity, nonclassical resources, and coarse-graining. We develop an exact, representation-consistent analysis of the lowest quasi-exact ground state of the symmetric double-Morse oscillator. In the double-Morse potential, the dimensionless parameter
A controls the separation of the minima and the central barrier, thereby changing the physical ground state. At fixed
A, the Cahill--Glauber parameter
s labels the quasiprobability
WA(s)(q,p):
s=0,
−1, and
1 give the Wigner, Husimi
Q, and Glauber--Sudarshan
P representations, respectively. Although the potential is double-welled for
0<A<1, the exact ground-state amplitude is single-peaked at the origin and lies above the barrier; as
A approaches unity, the merged well remains locally quartic rather than harmonic. Closed analytical expressions are obtained for the Wigner function and Weyl characteristic function. The Wigner function displays the
A-dependent exchange between position and momentum localization and retains negative regions, certifying nonclassicality and, for this pure state, non-Gaussianity. The Weyl function is its Fourier dual, generates symmetrically ordered moments and cumulants, and yields the full
s-ordered hierarchy. For
s<0, isotropic Gaussian smoothing suppresses fine sign-changing structure while preserving the large-scale localization envelope. The Husimi endpoint is nonnegative without implying classicality, whereas the
P representation remains distributional. Thus,
A controls the physical phase-space geometry, while
s controls how the same non-Gaussian and nonclassical state is resolved across complementary representations