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Journal of Mathematical Physics

Quantum-mechanical path integrals with Wiener measure for all polynomial Hamiltonians. II

Ingrid C. Daubechies, John R. Klauder

Published Sep 1, 1985• 101 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The coherent-state representation of quantum-mechanical propagators as well-defined phase-space path integrals involving Wiener measure on continuous phase-space paths in the limit that the diffusion constant diverges is formulated and proved. This construction covers a wide class of self-adjoint Hamiltonians, including all those which are polynomials in the Heisenberg operators; in fact, this method also applies to maximal symmetric Hamiltonians that do not possess a self-adjoint extension. This construction also leads to a natural covariance of the path integral under canonical transformations. An entirely parallel discussion for spin variables leads to the representation of the propagator for an arbitrary spin-operator Hamiltonian as well-defined path integrals involving Wiener measure on the unit sphere, again in the limit that the diffusion constant diverges.

DOI
10.1063/1.526803

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The coherent-state representation of quantum-mechanical propagators as well-defined phase-space path integrals involving Wiener measure on continuous phase-space paths in the limit that the diffusion constant diverges is formulated and proved. This construction covers a wide class of self-adjoint Hamiltonians, including all those which are polynomials in the Heisenberg operators; in fact, this method also applies to maximal symmetric Hamiltonians that do not possess a self-adjoint extension. This construction also leads to a natural covariance of the path integral under canonical transformations. An entirely parallel discussion for spin variables leads to the representation of the propagator for an arbitrary spin-operator Hamiltonian as well-defined path integrals involving Wiener measure on the unit sphere, again in the limit that the diffusion constant diverges.
The overcompleteness of the coherent states for the Heisenberg–Weyl group implies that many different integral kernels can be used to represent the same operator. Within such an equivalence class we construct an integral kernel to represent the quantum-mechanical evolution operator for certain dynamical systems in the form of a path integral that involves genuine (Wiener) measures on continuous phase-space paths. To achieve this goal it is necessary to employ an expression for the classical action different from the usual one.
By introducing a suitable continuous-time regularization into a formal phase-space path integral it follows that the propagator is given by the limit of well-defined functional integrals involving standard stochastic processes and their associated probability measures. Such regularizations require pinning of both coordinate and momenta variables, and automatically lead to coherent-state representations. It is found that each standard independent increment process, involving a superposition of a Wiener and a Poisson process, is associated with a specific, generally non-Gaussian, fiducial vector with which the coherent states are defined.
The definition and interpretation of canonical, phase space path integrals has evolved over many years to achieve a form that now admits a correct and rigorous formulation, which is also covariant under canonical coordinate transformations. Such formulations involve coherent state representations, which, in their modern version, were originally introduced as an alternative tool to construct phase space path integrals. Moreover, coherent state representations lead to physical interpretations that are more natural than those afforded by more traditional representations. Suitable continuous time regularization procedures lead to a covariant phase space path integral formulation that greatly clarifies the vague phrase that canonical quantization requires Cartesian coordinates.