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

International Journal of Quantum Chemistry

Ordered products of exponential operators by similarity transformations

Wolfgang Witschel

Published Dec 1, 1981• 19 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract The well‐known Hausdorff similarity transformation is used to derive a number of identities for exponential operators. The method does not give new results, but is shown to be a simple alternative to Feynman disentangling, parameter differentiation–differential equation, coherent states, and Lie–algebraic‐matrix techniques.

DOI
10.1002/qua.560200608

Related papers

Ordered operator expansions by comparison

Wolfgang Witschel

Ordered operator expansions for operators forming physically important low-dimensional Lie algebras are derived in a simple unified way. Starting with the Zassenhaus formula for the disentangling of exponential operators, series expansions of both undisentangled and disentangled exponentials and comparison of the operator coefficients of equal powers of an ordering parameter alpha leads to ordered operator expansions. This 'comparison method' gives an alternative simple derivation of some already known formulae and a number of new formulae in the physical and chemical applications of the harmonic oscillator and for master equation problems with nearest-neighbour transition probabilities. The 'comparison method' cannot be applied to the angular momentum algebra directly. By a slight modification it can be used to derive from one matrix element or trace of J x k J y l J z n all possible combinations k, l, n by simply comparing powers of ordering parameters.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General•Feb 1, 1975•53 citations

Exponential Operators and Parameter Differentiation in Quantum Physics

Ralph M. Wilcox

Elementary parameter-differentiation techniques are developed to systematically derive a wide variety of operator identities, expansions, and solutions to differential equations of interest to quantum physics. The treatment is largely centered around a general closed formula for the derivative of an exponential operator with respect to a parameter. Derivations are given of the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula and its dual, the Zassenhaus formula. The continuous analogs of these formulas which solve the differential equation dY(t)/dt = A(t) Y(t), the solutions of Magnus and Fer, respectively, are similarly derived in a recursive manner which manifestly displays the general repeated-commutator nature of these expansions and which is quite suitable for computer programming. An expansion recently obtained by Kumar and another new expansion are shown to be derivable from the Fer and Magnus solutions, respectively, in the same way. Useful similarity transformations involving linear combinations of elements of a Lie algebra are obtained. Some cases where the product eAeB can be written as a closed-form single exponential are considered which generalize results of Sack and of Weiss and Maradudin. Closed-form single-exponential solutions to the differential equation dY(t)/dt = A(t) Y(t) are obtained for two cases and compared with the corresponding multiple-exponential solutions of Wei and Norman. Normal ordering of operators is also treated and derivations, corollaries, or generalization of a number of known results are efficiently obtained. Higher derivatives of exponential and general operators are discussed by means of a formula due to Poincaré which is the operator analog of the Cauchy integral formula of complex variable theory. It is shown how results obtained by Aizu for matrix elements and traces of derivatives may be readily derived from the Poincaré formula. Some applications of the results of this paper to quantum statistics and to the Weyl prescription for converting a classical function to a quantum operator are given. A corollary to a theorem of Bloch is obtained which permits one to obtain harmonic-oscillator canonical-ensemble averages of general operators defined by the Weyl prescription. Solutions of the density-matrix equation are also discussed. It is shown that an initially canonical ensemble behaves as though its temperature remains constant with a ``canonical distribution'' determined by a certain fictitious Hamiltonian.

Journal of Mathematical Physics•Apr 1, 1967•1,207 citations

Disentanglement formulas: An alternative derivation and some applications to squeezed coherent states

Ananda Dasgupta

An alternative derivation of the disentanglement formulas for exponential operators, also known as the Baker–Campbell–Housdorff formulas is given for several Lie algebras. The method is especially suited to Lie algebras having no nontrivial center. We also look at some results that can be obtained by the use of these formulas in the case of squeezed coherent states.

American Journal of Physics•Nov 1, 1996•24 citations

New Convenient Way for Deriving Exponential Operators' Disentangling Formulas and Their Applications (II)

Fan Hong‐Yi, Liyun Hu

In the preceding paper [Commun. Theor. Phys. 51 (2009) 321] we have recommended a convenient method for disentangling exponential operators in the form of exp{B + C}, trying to find an operator A that satisfies [A, B] = C, and [A,[A,B]] = 0, then from the Baker–Hausdorff formula we have exp{B + C} = exp{B+[A, B]} = e A e B e −A . After arranging e A e B = e B e A e W , the disentangling exp{B + C} = e B e W is obtained. In this work we use this method to two-mode case, especially, derive the normal ordering form of exp[h(a † a + b † b) + ga † b † + kab] without appealing to Lie algebra method.

Communications in Theoretical Physics•Mar 1, 2009•12 citations

New Convenient Way for Deriving Exponential Operators' Disentangling Formulas and Their Applications

Fan Hong-Yi, Liyun Hu

We recommend a new convenient method for disentangling some exponential operators and derive a set of new operator identities. Especially, we derive the normal odering form of exp [fa † a + ga †2 + ka 2 ] without appealing to Lie algebra method. Application of these formulas in solving some dynamic Hamiltonian is presented.

Communications in Theoretical Physics•Feb 1, 2009•13 citations

Normally Ordered and Antinormally Ordered Expansions of Some Exponential Operators in Hilbert Space

Fan Hong-Yi

In this paper, the completeness relations of the fundamental representations in quantum mechanics, together with the "integration within orderd product" technique are exploited to derive normally ordered and antinormally ordered expansions of some exponential operators in Hilbert space. Applications of the normally ordered exponential operators to evaluating Feynman matrix element in coherent state representation are given, which seems to be a new approach.

Communications in Theoretical Physics•Sep 1, 1989•7 citations
Abstract The well‐known Hausdorff similarity transformation is used to derive a number of identities for exponential operators. The method does not give new results, but is shown to be a simple alternative to Feynman disentangling, parameter differentiation–differential equation, coherent states, and Lie–algebraic‐matrix techniques.
Ordered operator expansions for operators forming physically important low-dimensional Lie algebras are derived in a simple unified way. Starting with the Zassenhaus formula for the disentangling of exponential operators, series expansions of both undisentangled and disentangled exponentials and comparison of the operator coefficients of equal powers of an ordering parameter alpha leads to ordered operator expansions. This 'comparison method' gives an alternative simple derivation of some already known formulae and a number of new formulae in the physical and chemical applications of the harmonic oscillator and for master equation problems with nearest-neighbour transition probabilities. The 'comparison method' cannot be applied to the angular momentum algebra directly. By a slight modification it can be used to derive from one matrix element or trace of J x k J y l J z n all possible combinations k, l, n by simply comparing powers of ordering parameters.
Elementary parameter-differentiation techniques are developed to systematically derive a wide variety of operator identities, expansions, and solutions to differential equations of interest to quantum physics. The treatment is largely centered around a general closed formula for the derivative of an exponential operator with respect to a parameter. Derivations are given of the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula and its dual, the Zassenhaus formula. The continuous analogs of these formulas which solve the differential equation dY(t)/dt = A(t) Y(t), the solutions of Magnus and Fer, respectively, are similarly derived in a recursive manner which manifestly displays the general repeated-commutator nature of these expansions and which is quite suitable for computer programming. An expansion recently obtained by Kumar and another new expansion are shown to be derivable from the Fer and Magnus solutions, respectively, in the same way. Useful similarity transformations involving linear combinations of elements of a Lie algebra are obtained. Some cases where the product eAeB can be written as a closed-form single exponential are considered which generalize results of Sack and of Weiss and Maradudin. Closed-form single-exponential solutions to the differential equation dY(t)/dt = A(t) Y(t) are obtained for two cases and compared with the corresponding multiple-exponential solutions of Wei and Norman. Normal ordering of operators is also treated and derivations, corollaries, or generalization of a number of known results are efficiently obtained. Higher derivatives of exponential and general operators are discussed by means of a formula due to Poincaré which is the operator analog of the Cauchy integral formula of complex variable theory. It is shown how results obtained by Aizu for matrix elements and traces of derivatives may be readily derived from the Poincaré formula. Some applications of the results of this paper to quantum statistics and to the Weyl prescription for converting a classical function to a quantum operator are given. A corollary to a theorem of Bloch is obtained which permits one to obtain harmonic-oscillator canonical-ensemble averages of general operators defined by the Weyl prescription. Solutions of the density-matrix equation are also discussed. It is shown that an initially canonical ensemble behaves as though its temperature remains constant with a ``canonical distribution'' determined by a certain fictitious Hamiltonian.
In the preceding paper [Commun. Theor. Phys. 51 (2009) 321] we have recommended a convenient method for disentangling exponential operators in the form of exp{B + C}, trying to find an operator A that satisfies [A, B] = C, and [A,[A,B]] = 0, then from the Baker–Hausdorff formula we have exp{B + C} = exp{B+[A, B]} = e A e B e −A . After arranging e A e B = e B e A e W , the disentangling exp{B + C} = e B e W is obtained. In this work we use this method to two-mode case, especially, derive the normal ordering form of exp[h(a † a + b † b) + ga † b † + kab] without appealing to Lie algebra method.