Semiclassical limits for the dynamics of the Wigner function, and for the dynamics of the low-order moments of physical interest, are discussed in fluid-dynamical terms. The harmonic-oscillator solution yields local Maxwellian (ideal) fluid-dynamical behavior, and this is extended to locally quadratic problems in a straightforward manner. Coherent states are shown to have a particularly simple fluid-dynamical interpretation, and coherence may be easily demonstrated for mixed states having an arbitrary degree of uncertainty in the field variables. The semiclassical behavior of pure and mixed states is conveniently discussed in terms of coherent and incoherent limits, and the origin of quantum-mechanical behavior in the simple low-order approximations proposed is simply explained. The relation to the pure-state theory of Madelung is made explicit. A recently proposed method for the solution of a certain hierarchy of quantum-fluid-dynamical equations is analyzed in detail, and is demonstrated to be inconsistent with these semiclassical limits.
Semiclassical limits for the dynamics of the Wigner function, and for the dynamics of the low-order moments of physical interest, are discussed in fluid-dynamical terms. The harmonic-oscillator solution yields local Maxwellian (ideal) fluid-dynamical behavior, and this is extended to locally quadratic problems in a straightforward manner. Coherent states are shown to have a particularly simple fluid-dynamical interpretation, and coherence may be easily demonstrated for mixed states having an arbitrary degree of uncertainty in the field variables. The semiclassical behavior of pure and mixed states is conveniently discussed in terms of coherent and incoherent limits, and the origin of quantum-mechanical behavior in the simple low-order approximations proposed is simply explained. The relation to the pure-state theory of Madelung is made explicit. A recently proposed method for the solution of a certain hierarchy of quantum-fluid-dynamical equations is analyzed in detail, and is demonstrated to be inconsistent with these semiclassical limits.
A newly derive set of quantum fluid dynamical equations appropriate for the description of mixed state dynamics is presented. Based essentially on moments of the Wigner function, the theory presented here uses an expansion of the pseudodistribution function in conjunction with a renormalization technique to obtain a semiclassical approximation for the dynamics of the probability, probability current, and energy densities. Particularly simple equations, ideal fluid dynamics with a nonlocal potential, result from using a local Maxwellian ansatz for the Wigner function. Further, the transformed potential may be easily computed from the fields being convected. Analogies with classical kinetic theory and fluid dynamics are exploited whenever possible.
Quantum state diffusion (QSD) provides a natural unravelling of a mixed-state open quantum system into component pure states. We investigate the semiclassical limit of QSD in a phase-space approach using the Wigner function. As , QSD exhibits two very different dynamical regimes, depending on the volume of phase space covered by the quantum state. For large volumes there is a localization regime represented by classical nonlinear and nonlocal diffusion processes. For small volumes, comparable in size with a Planck cell, there is a wavepacket regime . Here, the centroid of the wavepacket follows a classical Langevin equation, obtained through the adiabatic elimination of the dynamics of the second-order moments of the wavepacket. The corresponding Fokker-Planck equation is identical to the one obtained from the classical limit of the original mixed-state dynamics. In the companion paper we present an axiomatic approach to a classical theory of quantum localization without using the underlying QSD theory.
A symplectically covariant quantum-mechanical uncertainty relation more accurate than previously known ones is derived for multidimensional systems. It is shown that the quantum-mechanical description of a linear Hamiltonian system in terms of squeezed states is completely equivalent to its description in terms of a phase-space distribution function. A new approach to the semiclassical limit is proposed, based on the use of squeezed states. By analyzing explicit formulas for squeezed states, a semiclassical asymptotic form of the solution to the Cauchy problem for a multidimensional Schrödinger equation is found in the limit of ħ → 0. The behavior of the semiclassical solution in the neighborhood of a caustic is analyzed in the one-dimensional case, and the phase shift across the caustic is determined. General properties and examples of squeezed states are discussed that point to the fundamental importance of squeezed states for developing a nonrelativistic quantum-mechanical description of a system of charged particles in an electromagnetic field in the dipole approximation.
In this Master's thesis, we give a pedagogical introduction to the semiclassical analysis of wave dynamics in single-band and multi-band systems. We show how the semiclassical evolutions of Wigner functions can approximate the dynamics of wave packet centers and wave packet deformations. Three systems of increasing complexity are considered: the quantum harmonic oscillator and the quantum anharmonic oscillator as single-band systems, and the Dirac oscillator as a two-band system. We explain the origins of the first-order semiclassical corrections (Moyal, Littlejohn-Flynn, and Berry) in the equations of motion and examine their effects on predictive accuracy.
Another focus is set on the conditions for validity of the semiclassical analysis. For both the quantum anharmonic and the Dirac oscillators, a dimensionless parameter controlling the accuracy of the approximation is identified. In multi-band systems, the formalism applies only to states within a single adiabatic subspace, which, for the Dirac oscillator, corresponds to an energy branch. This motivates the construction of single-branch almost coherent states: approximately Gaussian wave packets formed by superpositions of states from a single energy branch. Their centers undergo oscillations with an aperiodic envelope. These states enable comparison between semiclassical Wigner function evolution and the commonly used Sundaram-Niu formalism. We show that semiclassical Wigner function evolution captures deformation-related dynamics, including the initial decay of oscillations, which the Sundaram-Niu formalism cannot describe by construction.
Additionally, exact quantum evolution reveals partial relocalization of these single-branch almost coherent states, a phenomenon that cannot be captured by the semiclassical evolution.
ABSTRACT: The concept of open quantum system is very broad and it is related to the ability of measuring only certain degree of freedoms of a particular system. Although this idea is relatively simple, the separation between the system of interest, the degree of freedoms that are accesible experimentally, and the reservoir, the degree of freedoms that are not accesible experimentally, is not always clear. For instance, in molecular systems, electronic spectroscopy has access only to electronic degree of freedoms so that the nuclear and vibrational degree of freedom become the reservoir, this makes its description not trivial. This scenario leads to have non-trivial and structured reservoirs and to develop powerful tools to analyze them. The hallmark of non-trivial and structured reservoirs is the non-Markovian dynamics. By translating the Feynman and Vernon influence functional approach into phase-space representation, we develop two theories of semiclassical evolution of the Wigner function of the system of interest that incorporate non-Markovian dynamics and highly non-trivial quantum effects such as non-locality of quantum mechanics: (i) We translate the Caldeira-Leggett model into phase-space representation of quantum mechanics and (ii) we consider the possibility of having non-linear baths and therefore, truly quantum reservoirs. During the last forty years the study of energy loss and coherence in quantum systems has been based on the Ullersma-Caldeira-Leggett model, a model that describes the environment of quantum systems of interest as a collection of harmonic oscillators with classical evolution. We constructed this model in the Wigner-Weyl representation of quantum mechanics and discuss the classical nature of the evolution of the bath modes and the semiclassical evolution of the central system. As an application of the semiclassical Wigner propagator, the non-Markovian time evolution under the Morse potencial is analyzed. There, it is clear how decohering processes shrink the propagator to smaller regions of phase space implying that the dynamics become more local, i.e., more classical. The current level of experimentation and control of physical systems have called into question the validity of the model in, one hand, molecular systems (e.g. photosynthetic complexes immersed in solvents, chemical systems in liquid phase or gas and manipulated with intense laser pulses) and, in the other hand, solid state systems (e.g. Josephson junctions, spins in quantum dots or "spinning ice"). Given the importance of these systems in the development of new quantum technologies and in the understanding of quantum phenomena in mesoscopic systems, it has become necessary to develop new models of the environment and efficient methodologies with quantitative prediction power. However, some of them are artificial modifications of the Ullersma-Caldeira-Leggett model without solid and clean physical support. Here we formulated a general framework that allows the study of quantum correlations in quantum systems in the presence of non-harmonic thermal baths (e.g. baths formed by strongly coupled diatomic molecules). This formulation will allow a more precise and quantitative description of processes such as the transport of excitons in photosynthetic complexes, the transfer of heat in solid state devices, among others. Results clearly show the non-classical time dynamics of the bath modes. The implementation of this particular theory remains, however, as a challenge.
This paper presents a semiclassical theory for the computation of matrix elements of the type 〈u‖v〉 when either one or both ‖u〉 and ‖v〉 are coherent states (in different representations). Our results can be considered as an extension of Miller’s semiclassical theory [Adv. Chem. Phys. 25, 69 (1974)]. Such an extension has been presented also by Heller [J. Chem. Phys. 66, 5777 (1977)]. We were able to simplify considerably some of Heller’s results by exploiting the canonical properties of the classical coherent variables. This enabled us to relate the elements 〈u‖v〉 to certain generalized, complex generator functions in a manner that is very similar to the relations that appear in the original Miller’s theory. The advantages that are inherent in the coherent states representation are illustrated in a few elementary examples. We were able to derive an excellent approximation to the eigenstates of the harmonic oscillator which is valid even for the ground state. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that it is possible to describe semiclassically dynamical processes that are classically forbidden by real time trajectories in a certain generalized phase space.