Algebraic aspects of the wigner distribution in quantum mechanics

S. Chaturvedi, E. Ercolessi, G. Marmo +3 more

A V Gorbachev

J. H. Irving

B. Lesche, T. H. Seligman

Quantum mechanics is formulated on a quantum mechanical phase space. The algebra of observables and states is represented by an algebra of functions on a phase space that fulfils a certain coherence condition, expressing the quantum mechanical superposition principle. The trace operation is an integration over phase space. In the case where the canonical variables independently run from - infinity to + infinity formalism reduces to the representation of quantum mechanics by Wigner distributions. However, the notion of coherent algebra allows one to apply the formalism to spaces for which the Wigner mapping is not known. The quantum mechanics of a particle in a plane in polar coordinates is discussed as an example.

Basil J. Hiley

In this paper we examine in detail the non-commutative symplectic algebra underlying quantum dynamics. We show that this algebra contains both the Weyl-von Neumann algebra and the Moyal algebra. The latter contains the Wigner distribution as the kernel of the density matrix. The underlying non-commutative geometry can be projected into either of two Abelian spaces, so-called `shadow phase spaces'. One of these is the phase space of Bohmian mechanics, showing that it is a fragment of the basic underlying algebra. The algebraic approach is much richer, giving rise to two fundamental dynamical time development equations which reduce to the Liouville equation and the Hamilton-Jacobi equation in the classical limit. They also include the Schrödinger equation and its wave function, showing that these features are a partial aspect of the more general non-commutative structure. We discuss briefly the properties of this more general mathematical background from which the non-commutative symplectic algebra emerges.

Jan J. Sławianowski, Vasyl Kovalchuk, Agnieszka Martens +2 more

Discussed are some geometric aspects of the phase space formalism in quantum mechanics in the sense of Weyl, Wigner, Moyal, and Ville. We analyze the relationship between this formalism and geometry of the Galilei group, classical momentum mapping, theory of unitary projective representations of groups, and theory of groups algebras. Later on, we present some generalization to quantum mechanics on locally compact Abelian groups. It is based on Pontryagin duality. Indicated are certain physical aspects in quantum dynamics of crystal lattices, including the phenomenon of ‘Umklapp–Prozessen’. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.