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Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General

Description of quantum spin using functions on the sphere S2

J.-P. Amiet, M. B. Cibils

Published Apr 7, 1991• 35 citations
Publisher

Abstract

An overview of isomorphic correspondences between spin algebra and algebras of functions on the sphere is given. In addition, the authors show that in one case the induced product between the spin function and another function is expressible by the action of a first-order differential operator correcting the ordinary product. This deformation leads to the geometric quantization of classical spin. The classical limit is studied for a class of correspondences.

DOI
10.1088/0305-4470/24/7/023

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An overview of isomorphic correspondences between spin algebra and algebras of functions on the sphere is given. In addition, the authors show that in one case the induced product between the spin function and another function is expressible by the action of a first-order differential operator correcting the ordinary product. This deformation leads to the geometric quantization of classical spin. The classical limit is studied for a class of correspondences.
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Quantum systems whose states are tightly distributed among several invariant subspaces (variable spin systems) can be described in terms of distributions in a four-dimensional phase-space T∗S2 in the limit of large average angular momentum. The cotangent bundle T∗S2 is also the classical manifold for systems with E(3) symmetry group with appropriately fixed Casimir operators. This allows us to employ the asymptotic form of the star-product proper for variable (integer) spin systems to develop a deformation quantization scheme for a particle moving on the two-dimensional sphere, whose observables are elements of e(3) algebra and the corresponding phase-space is T∗S2. We show that the standard commutation relations of the e(3) algebra are recovered from the corresponding classical Poisson brackets and the explicit expressions for the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of some quantized classical observables (such as the angular momentum operators and their squares) are obtained.
In this paper we try to formulate the Berezin quantization on projective Hilbert space P(H) and use its geometric structure. It will be shown that the star product in Berezin quantiza- tion is equivalent to the Poisson bracket on P(H) and the Berezin method to construction a correspondence between a given classical theory and a given quantum theory is used to define a classical limit for geometric quantum mechanics. the covariant symbols. These symbols are expectation values of the observables in terms of coherent states: the holomorphic functions on classical phase space M that is assumed to be aKmanifold. Berezin (2) showed that the covariant symbols form a ∗-algebra which in limit � → 0l eads to the Poisson algebra between the corresponding classical observables: The functions on the phase space M. In this paper we will see that the Berezin ∗-algebra is in fact a Poisson algebra which is induced by the Fubini-Study 2-form on space of coherent states. This space is defined as follows: coherent states span a dense subspace H of Hilbert space H. P( H), which is denoted by M, is aKmanifold with induced symplectic structure from P(H). Therefore the covariant symbols can be considered as functions on M. It is shown (13) that there exists an embedding mapping between the classical phase space M and M, by which to any point z ∈ M is associated ap ointZ ∈M. With this construction to all of the quantum observables are associated their covariant symbols, which form a Poisson algebra on M and since the corresponding classical observables form a Poisson algebra on M , the Berezin quantization is a systematic procedure to relate these two Poisson algebras. Also the relation of Berezin quantization and geometric for- mulation of quantum mechanics will be evident as follows. The geometric quantum mechanics is a formulation of quantum mechanics in projective Hilbert spaces. With our construction one sees that the Berezin quantization is an equivalent formulation and in addition gives a prescription as classical limit for geometric quantum mechanics (9).
The concept of phase-space amplitudes for systems with continuous degrees of freedom is generalized to finite-dimensional spin systems. Complex amplitudes are obtained on both a sphere and a finite lattice, in each case enabling a more fundamental description of pure spin states than that previously given by Wigner functions. In each case the Wigner function can be expressed as the star product of the amplitude and its conjugate, so providing a generalized Born interpretation of amplitudes that emphasizes their more fundamental status. The ordinary product of the amplitude and its conjugate produces a (generalized) spin Husimi function. The case of spin-12\frac{1}{2}21​ is treated in detail, and it is shown that phase-space amplitudes on the sphere transform correctly as spinors under rotations, despite their expression in terms of spherical harmonics. Spin amplitudes on a lattice are also found to transform as spinors. Applications are given to the phase space description of state superposition, and to the evolution in phase space of the state of a spin-12\frac{1}{2}21​ magnetic dipole in a time-dependent magnetic field.
In these continuation papers (VI and VII) we are interested in approach the problem of spin from a classical point of view. In this first paper we will show that the spin is neither basically relativistic nor quantum but reflects just a simmetry property related to the Lie algebra to which it is associated. The classical approach will be paraleled with the usual quantum one to stress their formal similarities and epistemological differences. The important problem of Einstein-Bose condensation for fermions will also be addressed.