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Journal of Mathematical Physics

Wigner approach to quantization. Noncanonical quantization of two particles interacting via a harmonic potential

Tchavdar D. Palev

Published Oct 1, 1982• 59 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Following the ideas of Wigner, we quantize noncanonically a system of two nonrelativistic point particles, interacting via a harmonic potential. The center of mass phase-space variables are quantized in a canonical way, whereas the internal momentum and coordinates are assumed to satisfy relations, which are essentially different from the canonical commutation relations. As a result, the operators of the internal Hamiltonian, the relative distance, the internal momentum, and the orbital momentum commute with each other. The spectrum of these operators is finite. In particular, the distance between the constituents is preserved in time and can take at most four different values. The orbital momentum is either zero or one (in units ℏ/2). The operators of the coordinates do not commute with each other and, therefore, the position of any one of the constituents cannot be localized; the particles are smeared with a certain probability in a finite space volume, which moves together with the center of mass. In the limit ℏ→0 the constituents ‘‘fall’’ into their center of mass and the composite system behaves as a free point particle.

DOI
10.1063/1.525230

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Following the ideas of Wigner, we quantize noncanonically a system of two nonrelativistic point particles, interacting via a harmonic potential. The center of mass phase-space variables are quantized in a canonical way, whereas the internal momentum and coordinates are assumed to satisfy relations, which are essentially different from the canonical commutation relations. As a result, the operators of the internal Hamiltonian, the relative distance, the internal momentum, and the orbital momentum commute with each other. The spectrum of these operators is finite. In particular, the distance between the constituents is preserved in time and can take at most four different values. The orbital momentum is either zero or one (in units ℏ/2). The operators of the coordinates do not commute with each other and, therefore, the position of any one of the constituents cannot be localized; the particles are smeared with a certain probability in a finite space volume, which moves together with the center of mass. In the limit ℏ→0 the constituents ‘‘fall’’ into their center of mass and the composite system behaves as a free point particle.
A noncanonical quantum system, consisting of two nonrelativistic particles, interacting via a harmonic potential, is considered. The center-of-mass position and momentum operators obey the canonical commutation relations, whereas the internal variables are assumed to be the odd generators of the Lie superalgebra sl(1,2). This assumption implies a set of constraints in the phase space, which are explicitly written in the paper. All finite-dimensional irreducible representations of sl(1,2) are considered. Particular attention is paid to the physical representations, i.e., the representations corresponding to Hermitian position and momentum operators. The properties of the physical observables are investigated. In particular, the operators of the internal Hamiltonian, the relative distance, the internal momentum, and the orbital momentum commute with each other. The spectrum of these operators is finite. The distance between the constituents is preserved in time. It can take no more than three different values. For any non-negative integer or half-integer l there exists a representation, where the orbital momentum is l (in units of 2ℏ). The position of any one of the particles cannot be localized, since the operators of the coordinates do not commute with each other. The constituents are smeared with a certain probability within a finite surface, which moves with a constant velocity together with the center of mass.
Noncanonical quantization schemes have been proposed in quantum physics long time ago. Recalling some of them I associate these investigations to the quantum mechanical im-plications of the canonically inequivalent Hamilton formula-tions of classical Newtonian dynamics. As the simplest illus-tration of such alternative Hamiltonian descriptions I consider one dimensional system of two particles interacting harmoni-cally. Description of the motion of their center of mass is stan-dard and guarantees the Galilean covariance but the internal motion is described as a noncanonical oscillator for which the Hamiltonian and the total energy are not related by a simple proportionality. Alternative Hamiltonians lead to alternative Poisson structures which may be considered as classical ana-logues of the noncanonical quantum commutation rules. Gen-Concepts of Physics, Vol. I (2004) 11 erated alternative quantizations are consistent with the same Heisenberg equations of motion, i.e., they satisfy the Wigner principle of quantization. For the one dimensional harmonic oscillator the simplest noncanonical algebraic description is given in terms of the Lie algebra so(p, q), p+ q = 3. In such a case the Hamiltonian is still a linear function while the energy is a quadratic polynomial of the main quantum number. This leads to nonstandard termodynamical properties obeyed by such a noncanonical oscillator. The 3-dimensional harmonic oscillator also has a noncanonical description given in terms of the simple Lie algebra, so(p, q), p+ q = 5 in the case under consideration. The most important physical consequence of such a description is the noncommutativity of the coordinate operators, interpreted to be an implication of the noncommu-tative geometry of the underlying spacetime.
We present examples of many-body Wigner quantum systems. The position and the momentum operators RA and PA, A=1,…,n+1, of the particles are noncanonical and are chosen so that the Heisenberg and the Hamiltonian equations are identical. The spectrum of the energy with respect to the center of mass is equidistant and has finite number of energy levels. The composite system is spread in a small volume around the center of mass and within it the geometry is noncommutative. The underlying statistics is an exclusion statistics.
We review some of the difficulties previously encountered in defining the phase operator for finite quantum systems. We then propose the Wigner–Weyl quantization of the angle function φ on phase space as the phase operator, and derive a closed expression for its matrix elements with respect to the Hermite functions. We also determine the quantization of e^{iφ} , which turns out to be a weighted shift operator, its spectrum and that of its adjoint. This is done in the framework of quantization of a certain symbol class of phase space distributions, specialized to those which depend on one variable only. After recalling some results for the position and momentum variables, we apply the scheme to functions of radius or angle. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for operators obtained by quantizing functions of the angle to be elements of \mathscr L^+ [\mathscr S(\mathbf R)] and \mathscr L^+ [\mathscr S (\mathbf R), L^2(\mathbf R)] , and a sufficient condition for boundedness. We then consider the associated questions of commutation relations and uncertainties for operators in \mathscr L^+ [\mathscr S(\mathbf R), L^2(\mathbf R)] , which we define as bilinear forms. As must be the case, the commutator between our phase operator and the number operator exhibits noncanonical terms. Not surprisingly, the Poisson bracket of their phase space symbols also exhibits a noncanonical term.
In quantum mechanics, physical observables are represented by operators on a certain Hilbert space. The question of how such operators commute, has been a matter of discussion. In the standard perspective, the operators corresponding to the position and momentum of a system are assumed to satisfy the canonical commutation relations. It is known that these relations imply that the Hamilton and Heisenberg equations of motion are compatible as operator equations. However, Wigner showed that the inverse statement is not true. Therefore, it is a much weaker constraint to impose the compatibility of the equations of motion. For any physical system, this results in a set of compatibility conditions, which form the core of Wigner quantization. The key to finding operators that are subject to the compatibility conditions is provided by Lie superalgebras and their representations. Lie superalgebras can be defined as algebras generated by odd elements satisfying particular superbracket relations. Using these defining relations, Lie superalgebra generators can be found that obey the compatibility conditions. The Lie superalgebra elements act as operators on a vector space if we consider Lie superalgebra representations. Various physical systems are investigated in this thesis in the context of Wigner quantization. For each of these systems solutions are found in terms of Lie superalgebra generators, after which specific representations are examined. In such representations, the focus lies on determining particular physical properties of the system. Most of the studied systems are harmonic oscillator models. First, we examine a set-up of coupled harmonic oscillators, for which the interaction is represented by an interaction matrix. Then we focus on the angular momentum content of a 3N3N3N-dimensional harmonic oscillator. Finally, our attention goes to two one-dimensional systems, namely the free particle and the Berry-Keating-Connes Hamiltonian. The latter of these Hamiltonians is notorious for its possible connection with the Riemann hypothesis. All of the aforementioned Hamiltonians have been extensively investigated in the context of canonical quantization, so that our results can be compared to the well-known canonical case.
In a system of coupled harmonic oscillators, the interaction can be represented by a real, symmetric and positive definite interaction matrix.The quantization of a Hamiltonian describing such a system has been done in the canonical case.In this paper, we take a more general approach and look at the system as a Wigner quantum system.Hereby, one does not assume the canonical commutation relations, but instead one just requires the compatibility between the Hamilton and Heisenberg equations.Solutions of this problem are related to the Lie superalgebras gl(1|n) and osp(1|2n).We determine the spectrum of the considered Hamiltonian in specific representations of these Lie superalgebras and discuss the results in detail.We also make the connection with the well-known canonical case.