Universal quantum integrals of motion are introduced, and their relation with the universal quantum invariants is established. The invariants concerned are certain combinations of the second- and higher-order moments (variances) of quantum-mechanical operators, which are preserved in time independently of the concrete form of the coefficients of the Schrödinger equation, provided the Hamiltonian is either a generic quadratic form of the coordinate and momenta operators, or a linear combination of generators of some finite-dimensional algebra (in particular, any semisimple Lie algebra). Using the phase space representation of quantum mechanics in terms of the Wigner function, the relations between the quantum invariants and the classical universal integral invariants by Poincaré and Cartan are elucidated. Examples of the `universal invariant solutions' of the Schrödinger equation, i.e. self-consistent eigenstates of the universal integrals of motion, are given. Applications to the physics of optical and particle beams are discussed.
Universal quantum integrals of motion are introduced, and their relation with the universal quantum invariants is established. The invariants concerned are certain combinations of the second- and higher-order moments (variances) of quantum-mechanical operators, which are preserved in time independently of the concrete form of the coefficients of the Schrödinger equation, provided the Hamiltonian is either a generic quadratic form of the coordinate and momenta operators, or a linear combination of generators of some finite-dimensional algebra (in particular, any semisimple Lie algebra). Using the phase space representation of quantum mechanics in terms of the Wigner function, the relations between the quantum invariants and the classical universal integral invariants by Poincaré and Cartan are elucidated. Examples of the `universal invariant solutions' of the Schrödinger equation, i.e. self-consistent eigenstates of the universal integrals of motion, are given. Applications to the physics of optical and particle beams are discussed.
We give a brief review of the theory of quantum and optical universal invariants, i.e., certain combinations of the second- and higher-order moments (variances) of quantum-mechanical operators or the transverse phase-space coordinates of optical paraxial beams that are preserved in time (or along the axis of the beam) independently of the concrete form of the coefficients of the Hamiltonian or the parameters of the optical system, provided that the effective Hamiltonian is either a generic quadratic form of the generalized coordinate-momenta operators or a linear combination of generators of certain finite-dimensional algebras. Using the phase-space representation of quantum mechanics (paraxial optics) in terms of the Wigner function, we elucidate the relation between the quantum invariants and the classical universal integral invariants of Poincaré and Cartan. The specific features of the Gaussian beams are discussed as examples.
A representation of invariants in quantum mechanics for a general time-dependent Hamiltonian is provided. The main properties of these operators and their relevance for solving the Schrödinger equation are discussed in light of this representation. In particular, the well-known Lewis and Riesenfeld’s method is shown to be recovered quite directly by the present approach. A detailed analysis is concerned with Hamiltonians which at each instant are elements of a finite dimensional Lie algebra. Exploiting the Wei and Norman’s theory for such Hamiltonians, it is found that the evolution of a quantum system is always determined, in part or fully, by an invariant which belongs to the same algebra.
In the first part of the lectures dynamical invariants in classical mechanics and conventional quantum mechanics will be considered. In particular, we will begin with some remarks on classical mechanics and on quantization in order to establish the theory in the form that will be used later on. Starting from the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation, the dynamics of Gaussian wave packets and Ermakov invariants, the time‐dependent Green function/Feynman kernel, quantum‐classical connections, energetics and Lagrange—Hamilton formalism for quantum uncertainties, momentum space representation and the relation between the Wigner function and the Ermakov invariant will be discussed. The representation of canonical transformations in time‐independent and time‐dependent quantum mechanics, factorization of the Ermakov invariant and generalized creation/annihilation operators will be studied. Subsequently, the time‐independent Schrödinger equation, leading to nonlinear quantum mechanics related to Riccati/Ermakov systems as well as the occurrence of Riccati/Ermakov systems in the treatment of Bose—Einstein condensates via the so‐called moment method will be analyzed.In part two, irreversible dynamics of dissipative systems, classical and quantum mechanical descriptions and corresponding invariants will be treated. After some general remarks on classical and quantum mechanics with unitary time‐evolution and energy conservation, phenomenological Langevin and Fokker—Planck equations, master equations in classical and quantum mechanics and the system‐plus‐reservoir approach will be mentioned briefly. Then follows a more detailed discussion of modified Schrödinger equations and, particularly, of a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with complex logarithmic nonlinearity; its properties, solutions, invariants and energetics will be studied. Finally, a comparison with a classical description in expanding coordinates will lead to a non‐unitary connection between the logarithmic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, the Caldirola‐Kanai approach and the expanding coordinate approach.
In the first part of the lectures dynamical invariants in classical mechanics and conventional quantum mechanics will be considered. In particular, we will begin with some remarks on classical mechanics and on quantization in order to establish the theory in the form that will be used later on. Starting from the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation, the dynamics of Gaussian wave packets and Ermakov invariants, the time‐dependent Green function/Feynman kernel, quantum‐classical connections, energetics and Lagrange—Hamilton formalism for quantum uncertainties, momentum space representation and the relation between the Wigner function and the Ermakov invariant will be discussed. The representation of canonical transformations in time‐independent and time‐dependent quantum mechanics, factorization of the Ermakov invariant and generalized creation/annihilation operators will be studied. Subsequently, the time‐independent Schrödinger equation, leading to nonlinear quantum mechanics related to Riccati/Ermakov systems as well as the occurrence of Riccati/Ermakov systems in the treatment of Bose—Einstein condensates via the so‐called moment method will be analyzed.In part two, irreversible dynamics of dissipative systems, classical and quantum mechanical descriptions and corresponding invariants will be treated. After some general remarks on classical and quantum mechanics with unitary time‐evolution and energy conservation, phenomenological Langevin and Fokker—Planck equations, master equations in classical and quantum mechanics and the system‐plus‐reservoir approach will be mentioned briefly. Then follows a more detailed discussion of modified Schrödinger equations and, particularly, of a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with complex logarithmic nonlinearity; its properties, solutions, invariants and energetics will be studied. Finally, a comparison with a classical description in expanding coordinates will lead to a non‐unitary connection between the logarithmic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, the Caldirola‐Kanai approach and the expanding coordinate approach.
Abstract In Chapter 2, a path integral representation of the quantum operator e-β H in the case of Hamiltonians H of the separable form p2/2m + V(q) has been constructed. Here, the construction is extended to Hamiltonians that are more general functions of phase space variables. This results in integrals over paths in phase space involving the action expressed in terms of the classical Hamiltonian H(p,q). However, it is shown that, in the general case, the path integral is not completely defined, and this reflects the problem that the classical Hamiltonian does not specify completely the quantum Hamiltonian, due to the problem of ordering quantum operators in products. When the Hamiltonian is a quadratic function of the momentum variables, the integral over momenta is Gaussian and can be performed. In the separable example, the path integral of Chapter 2 is recovered. In the case of the charged particle in a magnetic field a more general form is found, which is ambiguous, since a problem of operator ordering arises, and the ambiguity must be fixed. Hamiltonians that are general quadratic functions provide other important examples, which are analysed thoroughly. Such Hamiltonians appear in the quantization of the motion on Riemannian manifolds. There, the problem of ambiguities is even more severe. The problem is illustrated by the analysis of the quantization of the free motion on the sphere SN−1.
The solution of the quantum dynamical equation $\frac{i\ensuremath{\hbar}\mathrm{dT}}{\mathrm{dt}}=HT$, for the time-displacement operator T, is given, when the Hamiltonian H is a polynomial of the second degree in canonically conjugate variables, with arbitrary time-dependent coefficients. Heisenberg's equations of motion are then solved, and the general integral of Schr\"odinger's equation in coordinate space is expressed by the Green's function corresponding to T. An example is given.