On the representation of quantum mechanics on phase space

Joachim J. Włodarz

Wawrzyniec Guz

Michele Cini, Maurizio Serva

S. Twareque Ali, Eduard Prugovečki

The problem of expressing quantum mechanical expectation values as averages with respect to nonnegative density functions on phase space, by analogy with classical mechanics, is reexamined in the light of some earlier work on fuzzy phase spaces. It is shown that such phase space representations are possible if ordinary phase space is replaced by a so-called fuzzy phase space, on which the usual marginal distribution functions are redefined to conform to the fact that arbitrarily precise simultaneous measurements on position and momentum are not compatible with quantum mechanics. In the process a generalization of Wigner’s theorem on the nonexistence of phase space representations of quantum mechanics, which also satisfy the standard (classical) marginality conditions in position and momentum, is obtained. It is shown that a (continuous) representation of quantum mechanics exists on a given fuzzy phase space if an only if the corresponding confidence functions for position and momentum measurements satisfy the Heisenberg uncertainty relations.

Franklin E. Schroeck

Franklin E. Schroeck

The methods of Born and Einstein are used to obtain the probability density in the formalism of quantum mechanics on phase space. The resulting probability leads to a contextual measurement scheme. The Wigner representation, the Husimi representation and the mass shell representation are discussed from the point of view of quantum mechanics on phase space. We also give ramifications for paradoxes in standard quantum mechanics.