The conventional quantization of the harmonic oscillator in terms of operators Q and P can be implemented with the help of irreducible unitary representations of the Heisenberg-Weyl group which acts transitively and effectively on the simply connected classical phase space S q,p ≊ 2 . In the description of the harmonic oscillator in terms of angle and action variables ϕ and I the associated phase space S ϕ,I corresponds to the multiply connected punctured plane 2 – {0}, on which the 3-dimensional symplectic group Sp(2, ) acts transitively, leaving the origin invariant. As this group contains the compact subgroup U (1) it has infinitely many covering groups. In the here relevant irreducible unitary representations (positive discrete series) the self-adjoint generator K o of U (l) represents the classical action variable I . It has the possible spectra n + k, n = 0,1,...; k > 0, where k depends on the covering group. This implies different possible spectra for the action variable Hamiltonian ℏωK 0 of the harmonic oscillator. On the other hand, expressing the operators Q and P (non-linearly) in terms of the three generators K 0 etc. of Sp (2, ) leads to the usual framework. Possible physical (experimental) implications and generalizations to higher dimensions are discussed briefly.
The conventional quantization of the harmonic oscillator in terms of operators Q and P can be implemented with the help of irreducible unitary representations of the Heisenberg-Weyl group which acts transitively and effectively on the simply connected classical phase space S q,p ≊ 2 . In the description of the harmonic oscillator in terms of angle and action variables ϕ and I the associated phase space S ϕ,I corresponds to the multiply connected punctured plane 2 – {0}, on which the 3-dimensional symplectic group Sp(2, ) acts transitively, leaving the origin invariant. As this group contains the compact subgroup U (1) it has infinitely many covering groups. In the here relevant irreducible unitary representations (positive discrete series) the self-adjoint generator K o of U (l) represents the classical action variable I . It has the possible spectra n + k, n = 0,1,...; k > 0, where k depends on the covering group. This implies different possible spectra for the action variable Hamiltonian ℏωK 0 of the harmonic oscillator. On the other hand, expressing the operators Q and P (non-linearly) in terms of the three generators K 0 etc. of Sp (2, ) leads to the usual framework. Possible physical (experimental) implications and generalizations to higher dimensions are discussed briefly.
In classical mechanics the harmonic oscillator (HO) provides the generic example for the use of angle and action variables and I > 0 which played a prominent role in the “old” Bohr-Sommerfeld quantum theory. However, already classically there is a problem which has essential implications for the quantum mechanics of the (φ,I)-model for the HO: the transformation is only locally symplectic and singular for (q,p) = (0,0). Globally the phase space {(q,p)} has the topological structure of the plane ℝ2, whereas the phase space {(φ,I)} corresponds globally to the punctured plane ℝ2 -(0,0) or to a simple cone with the tip deleted. From the properties of the symplectic transformations on that phase space one can derive the functions h0 = I, h1 = Icos φ and h2 = -Isin φ as the basic coordinates on {(φ,I)}, where their Poisson brackets obey the Lie algebra of the symplectic group of the plane. This implies a qualitative difference as to the quantum theory of the phase space {(φ,I)} compared to the usual one for {(q,p)}: In the quantum mechanics for the (φ,I)-model of the HO the three hj correspond to the self-adjoint generators Kj, j = 0,1,2, of certain irreducible unitary representations of the symplectic group or one of its infinitely many covering groups, the representations being parametrized by a (Bargmann) index k > 0. This index k determines the ground state energy of the (φ,I)-Hamiltonian . For an m-fold covering the lowest possible value for k is k = 1/m, which can be made arbitrarily small by choosing m accordingly! This is not in contradiction to the usual approach in terms of the operators Q and P which are now expressed as functions of the Kj, but keep their usual properties. The richer structure of the Kj quantum model of the HO is “erased” when passing to the simpler (Q,P)-model! This more refined approach to the quantum theory of the HO implies many experimental tests: Mulliken-type experiments for isotopic diatomic molecules, experiments with harmonic traps for atoms, ions and BE-condensates, with charged HOs in external electric fields and the (Landau) levels of charged particles in external magnetic fields, with the propagation of light in vacuum, passing through strong external electric or magnetic fields. Finally it may lead to a new theoretical estimate for the quantum vacuum energy of fields and its relation to the cosmological constant.
Abstract In classical mechanics the harmonic oscillator (HO) provides the generic example for the use of angle and action variables and I > 0 which played a prominent role in the “old” Bohr‐Sommerfeld quantum theory. However, already classically there is a problem which has essential implications for the quantum mechanics of the (φ,I)‐model for the HO: the transformation is only locally symplectic and singular for (q,p) = (0,0). Globally the phase space {(q,p)} has the topological structure of the plane ℝ2, whereas the phase space {(φ,I)} corresponds globally to the punctured plane ℝ2 ‐(0,0) or to a simple cone with the tip deleted. From the properties of the symplectic transformations on that phase space one can derive the functions h0 = I, h1 = Icos φ and h2 = ‐Isin φ as the basic coordinates on {(φ,I)}, where their Poisson brackets obey the Lie algebra of the symplectic group of the plane. This implies a qualitative difference as to the quantum theory of the phase space {(φ,I)} compared to the usual one for {(q,p)}: In the quantum mechanics for the (φ,I)‐model of the HO the three hj correspond to the self‐adjoint generators Kj, j = 0,1,2, of certain irreducible unitary representations of the symplectic group or one of its infinitely many covering groups, the representations being parametrized by a (Bargmann) index k > 0. This index k determines the ground state energy of the (φ,I)‐Hamiltonian . For an m‐fold covering the lowest possible value for k is k = 1/m, which can be made arbitrarily small by choosing m accordingly! This is not in contradiction to the usual approach in terms of the operators Q and P which are now expressed as functions of the Kj, but keep their usual properties. The richer structure of the Kj quantum model of the HO is “erased” when passing to the simpler (Q,P)‐model! This more refined approach to the quantum theory of the HO implies many experimental tests: Mulliken‐type experiments for isotopic diatomic molecules, experiments with harmonic traps for atoms, ions and BE‐condensates, with charged HOs in external electric fields and the (Landau) levels of charged particles in external magnetic fields, with the propagation of light in vacuum, passing through strong external electric or magnetic fields. Finally it may lead to a new theoretical estimate for the quantum vacuum energy of fields and its relation to the cosmological constant.
Abstract The problem of quantizing properly the canonical pair “angle and action variables”, φ and I, is almost as old as quantum mechanics itself and since decades an intensively debated but still unresolved issue in quantum optics. The present paper proposes a new approach to the problem, namely quantization in terms of the group SO(1,2): The crucial point is that the phase space has the global structure (a simple cone) and cannot be quantized in the conventional manner. As the group SO(1,2) acts transitively, effectively and Hamilton‐like on that space its irreducible unitary representations of the positive discrete series provide the appropriate quantum theoretical framework. The phase space has the conic structure of an orbifold . That structure is closely related to a Z2 gauge symmetry which corresponds to the center of a 2‐fold covering of SO(1,2), the symplectic group . The basic variables on the phase space are the functions h0 = I, h1 = I cos φ and h2 = ‐I sin φ the Poisson brackets of which obey the Lie algebra . In the quantum theory they are represented by the self‐adjoint Lie algebra generators K0, K1, and K2 of a unitary representation, where K0 has the spectrum {k + n, n = 0, 1, …; k > 0}. A crucial prediction is that the classical Pythagorean relation h12 + h22 = h02 can be violated in the quantum theory. For each representation one can define three different types of coherent states the complex phases of which may be “measured” by means of the operators K1 and K2 alone without introducing any new phase operators! The SO(1,2) structure of optical squeezing and interference properties as well as that of the harmonic oscillator are analyzed in detail. The additional coherent states can be used for the introduction of (Husimi type) “Q” distributions and (Sudarshan‐Glauber type) “P” representations of the density operator. The three operators K0, K1, and K2 are fundamental in the sense that one can construct composite position and momentum operators out of them! The new framework poses quite a number of fascinating experimental and theoretical challenges.
The problem of quantizing phase and modulus associated with the polar coordinates of a 2-dimensional phase space dates back to the first years of quantum mechanics: The symplectic space P = { φ ∈ ( -π,+π],p > 0} has the global structure S 1 × R + and cannot be quantized in the conventional naive way. The appropriate method is the group theoretical quantization which here leads to the group 50(1,2) and the positive discrete series of its irreducible unitary representations. The basic classical observables p cosφ.p sinφ and p correspond to the self-adjoint operators K 1 , K 2 and K < of the SO ( 1,2) Lie algebra. The approach provides appropriate quantum observables for the phase space P and a promising basis for the description of quantum optical structures
Following a recent group theoretical quantization of the symplectic space S={(phi in R mod 2pi, p>0)} in terms of irreducible unitary representations of the group SO(1,2) the present paper proposes an application of those results to the old problem of quantizing modulus and phase in interference phenomena: The self-adjoint Lie algebra generators K_1, K_2 and K_3 of that group correspond to the classical observables p cos(phi), -p sin(phi) and p > 0 the Poisson brackets of which obey that Lie algebra, too. For the irreducible unitary representations of the positive series the modulus operator K_3 has the positive discrete spectrum {n+k, n=0,1,2,...; k > 0}. Self-adjoint operators for cos(phi) and sin(phi) can then be defined as (K_3^{-1}K_1 + K_1 K_3^{-1})/2 and - (K_3^{-1} K_2 + K_2 K_3^{-1})/2 which have the theoretically desired properties for k >0.32. Some matrix elements with respect to number eigenstates and with respect to coherent states are calculated. One conclusion is that group theoretical quantization may be tested by quantum optical experiments.
The symplectic group Sp(n) acts on phase space while the unitary representation of its double cover, Mp(n), the metaplectic group, acts on functions defined on configuration space. We will construct an extension Mp(n) of Mp(n) acting on square integrable functions on phase space. This is performed using previous results of ours involving explicit expressions of the twisted Weyl symbols of metaplectic operators and Bopp pseudodifferential operators, which are phase space extensions of the usual Weyl operators.