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

Journal of Computational Chemistry

The eigenvalue problem in phase space

Leon W. Cohen

Published Jul 27, 2017• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We formulate the standard quantum mechanical eigenvalue problem in quantum phase space. The equation obtained involves the c-function that corresponds to the quantum operator. We use the Wigner distribution for the phase space function. We argue that the phase space eigenvalue equation obtained has, in addition to the proper solutions, improper solutions. That is, solutions for which no wave function exists which could generate the distribution. We discuss the conditions for ascertaining whether a position momentum function is a proper phase space distribution. We call these conditions psi-representability conditions, and show that if these conditions are imposed, one extracts the correct phase space eigenfunctions. We also derive the phase space eigenvalue equation for arbitrary phase space distributions functions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

DOI
10.1002/jcc.24884

Related papers

Quantum-mechanical phase space: A generalization of Wigner phase-space formulation to arbitrary coordinate systems

Ashok V. Pimpale, Mohsen Razavy

This paper deals with certain aspects of the phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics. Noting the ambiguities involved in quantizing the classical phase-space dynamics, a generalized quantum-mechanical phase space is introduced in terms of eigenvalues of two mutually incompatible complete sets of operators. General definitions are given for the phase-space distribution function corresponding to a given abstract state of the system and the phase-space function for an arbitrary operator. Our formulation goes over to the Wigner formulation when the complete sets correspond to position and momentum operators in Cartesian coordinates. Explicit examples are discussed with use of action-angle and polar coordinates for simple one-, two-, and three-dimensional systems. Symmetry changes in phase space are discussed by applying Gel'fand-Levitan transformations and it is shown that, in general, the degeneracies of motion in phase space are not reflected in the energy eigenvalues.

Physical Review A•Dec 1, 1988•10 citations

Quantization problem and variational principle in the phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics

Leon W. Cohen

The problem of quantization in the phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics is considered. An integral equation for the phase-space eigenfunctions is derived which is equivalent to the standard eigenvalue equation for a quantum mechanical operator. A differential form is also given. A variational principle is derived for quasiprobability distributions. It is shown that the expected value of the classical Hamiltonian calculated with a trial quasiprobability distribution will be greater than the ground state energy only if the distribution is chosen from a certain class of functions. The notion of ψ-representability is introduced to classify these functions. They represent distributions which correspond to possible quantum mechanical states. Also, a general relation is given between different distribution functions.

Journal of Mathematical Physics•Oct 1, 1976•71 citations

The Wigner representation of quantum mechanics

Valerian I. Tatarskii

Correct use of the Wigner representation of quantum mechanics, which is realized with joint distributions of quasiprobabilities in phase space, requires the use of certain specific rules and attention to a number of properties which distinguish the quasiprobability from a true probability. This paper is mainly concerned with these problems. In the Wigner representation the quantum Liouville equation appears instead of the Schroedinger equation. The solution may have no physical meaning unless it is subjected to a necessary and sufficient condition which selects an allowed class of distributions which describe quantum-mechanical pure states. This condition contains Planck's constant and imposes, besides the uncertainty relations, severe restrictions on the possible form of the Wigner function. When this condition is satisfied, one can reconstruct the wave function from the Wigner function. In the case of an oscillator, the quantization condition for the energies of the stationary states does not follow from the Liouville equation, but from this supplementary condition. Unlike the true probability density, any Wigner function (except Gaussian ones) of a pure state takes on negative values. Another important peculiarity is that the quasiprobability is not concentrated on certain hypersurfaces, but is smeared out over the entire phase space. These and other features considered in this paper should be kept in mind when using the Wigner representation in quantum-mechanical problems.

Soviet Physics Uspekhi•Apr 30, 1983•483 citations

Contracted Schrödinger equation in quantum phase‐space

C. Frishberg, Leon W. Cohen

The phase space formulation of quantum mechanics is equivalent to standard quantum mechanics where averages are calculated by way of phase space integration as in the case of classical statistical mechanics. We derive the quantum hierarchy equations, often called the contracted Schrödinger equation, in the phase space representation of quantum mechanics which involves quasi-distributions of position and momentum. We use the Wigner distribution for the phase space function and the Moyal phase space eigenvalue formulation to derive the hierarchy. We show that the hierarchy equations in the position, momentum, and position-momentum representations are very similar in structure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Journal of Computational Chemistry•Jul 27, 2017•1 citation

Necessary and sufficient conditions for a phase-space function to be a Wigner distribution

Francis J. Narcowich, Robert F. O’Connell

We discuss two sets of conditions that are necessary and sufficient for a function defined on phase space to be a Wigner distribution function (WDF). The first set is well known and involves the function itself; the second set is less familiar and involves the function's ``symplectic'' Fourier transform. After explaining why these two sets are equivalent, we explore some properties and applications of the second one. Among other things, we show that that set includes the position-momentum uncertainty relations as a special case, and in doing so we give a new derivation of them. This derivation itself serves as the starting point for the discussion of a quantum-mechanical moment problem. It also enables us to exhibit a real-valued phase-space function that obeys the uncertainty relations but that is not a WDF.

Physical Review A•Jul 1, 1986•98 citations

The formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of phase space functions-the third equation

D. B. Fairlie, Corinne A. Manogue

The formalism of the Wigner distribution function is reviewed. In addition to the Liouville equation, which expresses the time rate of change of this function in terms of its Moyal bracket with the Hamiltonian, and its expression as a projection operator, a third equation is proposed with the aid of an auxiliary variable s, to which a formal solution is constructed in terms of known quantum-mechanical eigenfunctions and eigenvalues. In addition, an ab initio solution to the three equations in terms of an error function is found for the free particle in one dimension. Two views are advanced: the orthodox, that this new equation is merely a consistency requirement, and the speculative, that the measurement process has something to do with the choice of s.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General•Aug 21, 1991•35 citations
We formulate the standard quantum mechanical eigenvalue problem in quantum phase space. The equation obtained involves the c-function that corresponds to the quantum operator. We use the Wigner distribution for the phase space function. We argue that the phase space eigenvalue equation obtained has, in addition to the proper solutions, improper solutions. That is, solutions for which no wave function exists which could generate the distribution. We discuss the conditions for ascertaining whether a position momentum function is a proper phase space distribution. We call these conditions psi-representability conditions, and show that if these conditions are imposed, one extracts the correct phase space eigenfunctions. We also derive the phase space eigenvalue equation for arbitrary phase space distributions functions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
This paper deals with certain aspects of the phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics. Noting the ambiguities involved in quantizing the classical phase-space dynamics, a generalized quantum-mechanical phase space is introduced in terms of eigenvalues of two mutually incompatible complete sets of operators. General definitions are given for the phase-space distribution function corresponding to a given abstract state of the system and the phase-space function for an arbitrary operator. Our formulation goes over to the Wigner formulation when the complete sets correspond to position and momentum operators in Cartesian coordinates. Explicit examples are discussed with use of action-angle and polar coordinates for simple one-, two-, and three-dimensional systems. Symmetry changes in phase space are discussed by applying Gel'fand-Levitan transformations and it is shown that, in general, the degeneracies of motion in phase space are not reflected in the energy eigenvalues.
The problem of quantization in the phase-space formulation of quantum mechanics is considered. An integral equation for the phase-space eigenfunctions is derived which is equivalent to the standard eigenvalue equation for a quantum mechanical operator. A differential form is also given. A variational principle is derived for quasiprobability distributions. It is shown that the expected value of the classical Hamiltonian calculated with a trial quasiprobability distribution will be greater than the ground state energy only if the distribution is chosen from a certain class of functions. The notion of ψ-representability is introduced to classify these functions. They represent distributions which correspond to possible quantum mechanical states. Also, a general relation is given between different distribution functions.
Correct use of the Wigner representation of quantum mechanics, which is realized with joint distributions of quasiprobabilities in phase space, requires the use of certain specific rules and attention to a number of properties which distinguish the quasiprobability from a true probability. This paper is mainly concerned with these problems. In the Wigner representation the quantum Liouville equation appears instead of the Schroedinger equation. The solution may have no physical meaning unless it is subjected to a necessary and sufficient condition which selects an allowed class of distributions which describe quantum-mechanical pure states. This condition contains Planck's constant and imposes, besides the uncertainty relations, severe restrictions on the possible form of the Wigner function. When this condition is satisfied, one can reconstruct the wave function from the Wigner function. In the case of an oscillator, the quantization condition for the energies of the stationary states does not follow from the Liouville equation, but from this supplementary condition. Unlike the true probability density, any Wigner function (except Gaussian ones) of a pure state takes on negative values. Another important peculiarity is that the quasiprobability is not concentrated on certain hypersurfaces, but is smeared out over the entire phase space. These and other features considered in this paper should be kept in mind when using the Wigner representation in quantum-mechanical problems.
The phase space formulation of quantum mechanics is equivalent to standard quantum mechanics where averages are calculated by way of phase space integration as in the case of classical statistical mechanics. We derive the quantum hierarchy equations, often called the contracted Schrödinger equation, in the phase space representation of quantum mechanics which involves quasi-distributions of position and momentum. We use the Wigner distribution for the phase space function and the Moyal phase space eigenvalue formulation to derive the hierarchy. We show that the hierarchy equations in the position, momentum, and position-momentum representations are very similar in structure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
We discuss two sets of conditions that are necessary and sufficient for a function defined on phase space to be a Wigner distribution function (WDF). The first set is well known and involves the function itself; the second set is less familiar and involves the function's ``symplectic'' Fourier transform. After explaining why these two sets are equivalent, we explore some properties and applications of the second one. Among other things, we show that that set includes the position-momentum uncertainty relations as a special case, and in doing so we give a new derivation of them. This derivation itself serves as the starting point for the discussion of a quantum-mechanical moment problem. It also enables us to exhibit a real-valued phase-space function that obeys the uncertainty relations but that is not a WDF.
The formalism of the Wigner distribution function is reviewed. In addition to the Liouville equation, which expresses the time rate of change of this function in terms of its Moyal bracket with the Hamiltonian, and its expression as a projection operator, a third equation is proposed with the aid of an auxiliary variable s, to which a formal solution is constructed in terms of known quantum-mechanical eigenfunctions and eigenvalues. In addition, an ab initio solution to the three equations in terms of an error function is found for the free particle in one dimension. Two views are advanced: the orthodox, that this new equation is merely a consistency requirement, and the speculative, that the measurement process has something to do with the choice of s.