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Europhysics Letters (EPL)

Do we have a consistent non-adiabatic quantum-classical mechanics?

Federica Agostini, S. Caprara, Giovanni Ciccotti

Published Apr 12, 2007• 44 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum-classical equations of motion satisfying Jacobi identity were recently proposed by V. V. Kisil ( Europhys. Lett. , 72 (2005) 873), generalizing the Heisenberg group formulation of quantum mechanics. In the attempt to provide a physical interpretation for the resulting quantum-classical dynamics, we have reconstructed and analyzed the derivation, finding that there is a suitable representation from which the purely classical nature of the supposedly quantum-classical equations of motion clearly emerges.

DOI
10.1209/0295-5075/78/30001

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Comment on "Do we have a consistent non-adiabatic quantum-classical mechanics?" by Agostini F. et al.

Vladimir V. Kisil

We argue with claims of the paper [Agostini F., Caprara S. and Ciccotti G., Europhys. Lett. EPL, 78 (2007) Art. 30001, 6] that the quantum-classic bracket introduced in [arXiv:quant-ph/0506122] produces "artificial coupling" and has "genuinely classical nature".

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Quantum-classical equations of motion satisfying Jacobi identity were recently proposed by V. V. Kisil ( Europhys. Lett. , 72 (2005) 873), generalizing the Heisenberg group formulation of quantum mechanics. In the attempt to provide a physical interpretation for the resulting quantum-classical dynamics, we have reconstructed and analyzed the derivation, finding that there is a suitable representation from which the purely classical nature of the supposedly quantum-classical equations of motion clearly emerges.
Classical and quantum physics represent two distinct theories; however, quantum physics is regarded as the more fundamental of the two. It is posited that classical mechanics should arise from quantum mechanics under certain limiting conditions. Nevertheless, this remains a challenging objective. In this work, we explore the potential for unifying the dynamics of classical and quantum physics. This discussion does not suggest that classical behavior emerges from quantum mechanics; rather, it demonstrates the exact equivalence between the dynamics of quantum observables and their classical counterparts. It is shown that the Heisenberg equations of motion can be cast in a form that is structurally equivalent to Newton's equations of motion, with ℏ\hbarℏ dropping out from the equations. In a generalized analysis, the Heisenberg equations are cast in a form that is identical to the classical Hamilton's equations of motion. This implies that both quantum and classical dynamics are governed by the same form of equations, with the Heisenberg operators substituting the classical observables.
A quantum-classical bracket is proposed and is shown to satisfy the Jacobi identity, in contrast to previous definitions that obey this property only up to higher order terms in the Planck constant variant Planck's over 2pi. The Jacobi identity is required of a true Lie bracket and ensures that the Lie bracket of constants of motion is also a constant of motion. An explicit calculation of the Jacobi identity highlights the difference between the proposed and traditional definitions. A further example illustrates that the proposed bracket generates a more consistent quantum-classical dynamics than the traditional bracket. The traditional quantum-classical dynamics in the Henon-Heiles system diverges due to higher order variant Planck's over 2pi terms. The divergence is eliminated with the proposed bracket.
The time-dependent Schrödinger equation is a cornerstone of quantum physics and governs all phenomena of the microscopic world. However, despite its importance, its origin is still not widely appreciated and properly understood. We obtain the Schrödinger equation from a mathematical identity by a slight generalization of the formulation of classical statistical mechanics based on the Hamilton-Jacobi equation. This approach brings out most clearly the fact that the linearity of quantum mechanics is intimately connected to the strong coupling between the amplitude and phase of a quantum wave.
In principle, non-Hermitian quantum equations of motion can be formulated using as a starting point either the Heisenberg's or the Schrödinger's picture of quantum dynamics. Here it is shown in both cases how to map the algebra of commutators, defining the time evolution in terms of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, onto a non-Hamiltonian algebra with a Hermitian Hamiltonian. The logic behind such a derivation is reversible, so that any Hermitian Hamiltonian can be used in the formulation of non-Hermitian dynamics through a suitable algebra of generalized (non-Hamiltonian) commutators. These results provide a general structure (a template) for non-Hermitian equations of motion to be used in the computer simulation of open quantum systems dynamics.
In principle, non-Hermitian quantum equations of motion can be formulated using as a starting point either the Heisenberg's or the Schrödinger's picture of quantum dynamics. Here it is shown in both cases how to map the algebra of commutators, defining the time evolution in terms of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, onto a non-Hamiltonian algebra with a Hermitian Hamiltonian. The logic behind such a derivation is reversible, so that any Hermitian Hamiltonian can be used in the formulation of non-Hermitian dynamics through a suitable algebra of generalized (non-Hamiltonian) commutators. These results provide a general structure (a template) for non-Hermitian equations of motion to be used in the computer simulation of open quantum systems dynamics.